Assessment of Heavy Metal Transfer from Soil to Forage and Milk in the Tungurahua Volcano Area, Ecuador

Lourdes Carrera-Beltrán, Irene Gavilanes-Terán, Víctor Hugo Valverde-Orozco, Steven Ramos-Romero, Concepción Paredes, Ángel A. Carbonell-Barrachina and Antonio J. Signes-Pastor ()
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Lourdes Carrera-Beltrán: Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
Irene Gavilanes-Terán: Facultad de Ciencias, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
Víctor Hugo Valverde-Orozco: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba 060108, Ecuador
Steven Ramos-Romero: Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, EPSO-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, Orihuela, 03312 Alicante, Spain
Concepción Paredes: Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, EPSO-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, Orihuela, 03312 Alicante, Spain
Ángel A. Carbonell-Barrachina: Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, EPSO-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, Orihuela, 03312 Alicante, Spain
Antonio J. Signes-Pastor: Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University, EPSO-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, Orihuela, 03312 Alicante, Spain

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 19, 1-18

Abstract: The Bilbao parish, located on the slopes of the Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador), was heavily impacted by ashfall during eruptions between 1999 and 2016. Volcanic ash may contain toxic metals such as Pb, Cd, Hg, As, and Se, which are linked to neurological, renal, skeletal, pulmonary, and dermatological disorders. This study evaluated metal concentrations in soil (40–50 cm depth, corresponding to the rooting zone of forage grasses), forage ( English ryegrass and Kikuyu grass ), and raw milk to assess potential risks to livestock and human health. Sixteen georeferenced sites were selected using a simple random probabilistic sampling method considering geological variability, vegetation cover, accessibility, and cattle presence. Samples were digested and analyzed with a SpectrAA 220 atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Varian Inc., Victoria, Australia). Soils (Andisols) contained Hg (1.82 mg/kg), Cd (0.36 mg/kg), As (1.36 mg/kg), Pb (1.62 mg/kg), and Se (1.39 mg/kg); all were below the Ecuadorian limits, except for Hg and Se. Forage exceeded FAO thresholds for Pb, Cd, As, Hg, and Se. Milk contained Pb, Cd, and Hg below detection limits, while Se averaged 0.047 mg/kg, exceeding water safety guidelines. Findings suggest soils act as sources with significant bioaccumulation in forage but limited transfer to milk. Although immediate consumer risk is low, forage contamination highlights long-term hazards, emphasizing the need for monitoring, soil management, and farmer guidance.

Keywords: Bilbao parish; heavy metals; macronutrients; pollution; tungurahua volcano (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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