Hg Pollution in Groundwater of Andean Region of Ecuador and Human Health Risk Assessment

Irene Passarelli (), Demmy Mora-Silva, Mirian Jimenez-Gutierrez, Santiago Logroño-Naranjo, Damaris Hernández-Allauca, Rogelio Ureta Valdez, Victor Gabriel Avalos Peñafiel, Luis Patricio Tierra Pérez, Marcelo Sanchez-Salazar, María Gabriela Tobar Ruiz, Katherin Carrera-Silva, Salvatore Straface and Carlos Mestanza-Ramón ()
Additional contact information
Irene Passarelli: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Demmy Mora-Silva: Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain
Mirian Jimenez-Gutierrez: Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador
Santiago Logroño-Naranjo: Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador
Damaris Hernández-Allauca: Research Group Sustainability, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Riobamba 060104, Ecuador
Rogelio Ureta Valdez: Research Group GIRMI, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Sede Morona Santiago, Macas 140101, Ecuador
Victor Gabriel Avalos Peñafiel: Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador
Luis Patricio Tierra Pérez: Grupo de Investigación Innovación y Tecnología Morona Santiago (IITMS), Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Sede Morona Santiago, Macas 140101, Ecuador
Marcelo Sanchez-Salazar: Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador
María Gabriela Tobar Ruiz: Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador
Katherin Carrera-Silva: Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador
Salvatore Straface: Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Carlos Mestanza-Ramón: Research Group YASUNI-SDC, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Sede Orellana, El Coca 220001, Ecuador

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: In Ecuador, illegal gold mining has led to significant environmental impacts, with the release of harmful elements such as mercury (Hg) into the environment. Mercury, due to its physical–chemical characteristics and the transport elements involved between different environmental matrices, can easily percolate through the soil and reach groundwater. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mercury concentration levels in the Andean region in order to perform a human health risk assessment. For this purpose, 175 water samples were analyzed, of which 9.71% exceeded the maximum permissible limit (MPL) established for drinking water in accordance with Ecuadorian regulations. The risk analysis was conducted by applying two approaches: deterministic and probabilistic. The deterministic approach involves a specific analysis based on the calculation of the risk quotient (HQ) and risk index (HI) for both receptors (adults and children) and scenarios (residential and recreational) considered; the probabilistic approach is based on the use of stochastic simulation techniques. The results obtained from the two approaches show a discrepancy, with the deterministic analysis providing more conservative results; however, they coincide in showing higher risk for the child population; decision-makers could use these results to identify areas to be monitored and plan more detailed investigation plans.

Keywords: gold extraction; mercury contamination; environmental impact; groundwater pollution; risk assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
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