Determination of Soil Contamination Due to the Influence of Cemeteries for the Surrounding Land and People in Central Ecuador—Worldwide Implications

Viviana Abad-Sarango, Tania Crisanto-Perrazo, Paulina Guevara-García, Greta Fierro-Naranjo, Theofilos Toulkeridis (), Edwin Ocaña Garzón, Betzabeth Quishpe-Gómez and Silvana Suntaxi-Pachacama
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Viviana Abad-Sarango: Department of Earth and Construction Sciences, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. Gral. Rumiñahui S/N, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Tania Crisanto-Perrazo: Department of Earth and Construction Sciences, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. Gral. Rumiñahui S/N, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Paulina Guevara-García: Department of Earth and Construction Sciences, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. Gral. Rumiñahui S/N, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Greta Fierro-Naranjo: Faculty Civil Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Av. Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito 170143, Ecuador
Theofilos Toulkeridis: Department of Earth and Construction Sciences, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. Gral. Rumiñahui S/N, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Edwin Ocaña Garzón: Department of Energy and Mechanical Sciences, Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE, Av. Gral. Rumiñahui S/N, Sangolquí 171103, Ecuador
Betzabeth Quishpe-Gómez: Faculty Civil Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Av. Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito 170143, Ecuador
Silvana Suntaxi-Pachacama: Faculty Civil Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Av. Ladrón de Guevara E11-253, Quito 170143, Ecuador

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-17

Abstract: Human decomposition processes generate pulses of nutrients, such as carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the form of ammonium and nitrate (NO 3 − ), which are released into the surrounding environment. The little exploration related to the potential of cadaveric leachate to influence the physical chemistry and biology of the soil makes it difficult to obtain data and scientific evidence, and subsequently the predominant objective of the current study was to determine soil contamination through the analysis of parameters of physical chemistry that included organic matter (OM), NO 3 − , texture, humidity, and pH. Soil samples were taken at different depths in two temporary trials (the dry and rainy seasons) in central Ecuador. The Kruskal–Wallace and ANOVA statistical analyses determined significant differences in relation to the sampling sections and by categories, while there were no significant differences in the inter-season analysis; therefore, the study was based on the data obtained in the dry season. The results indicate a tendency towards contamination in cemeteries categorized as critical, that is, moderate, light, and not suitable due to the high values of OM and humidity measured. On the contrary, the soils that corresponded to the cemeteries classified as suitable yielded low values of the analyzed parameters, which corroborates their capacity for the present and future location of cemeteries. Monitoring and managing soil health is crucial to ensure sustainable environmental practices and protect public health; nonetheless, additional research is suggested to confirm the findings of the current study.

Keywords: soil pollution; cemeteries pollution; corpse leachate; ANOVA analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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