Contamination Level and Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediments of El Guájaro Reservoir, Colombia

Abstract

Heavy metals have become a subject of special concern worldwide, mainly due to high persistence in the environment, toxicity, biogeochemical recycling and ecological risk. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to analyze the spatial-temporal distribution of heavy metals in water and sediments to determine the environmental status of El Guájaro Reservoir, where such studies have not been developed. Two measurement campaigns (dry and wet period) were carried out and eight sampling stations were selected. A comparison of water and sediment quality parameters with existing national and international regulations was done. Also, heavy metal distribution maps were generated, and the geoaccumulation index was calculated to identify sources and sediments contamination level. Based on the obtained results, agriculture and mining activities are the main causes of the reservoir contamination. This metals levels could be a potential risk for the aquatic life and the populations that are supplied from this water body.

Evaluation of contaminants in agricultural soils in an Irrigation District in Colombia

“…This result corroborate the high concentration of Zn in comparison with the others HM. Additionally, Torregroza-Espinosa et al. (2018), reported the presence of HM (Zn, Pb, and Hg) in water and surface sediments of El Guájaro Reservoir, the highest levels were found in the southwest and northern zones of this body of water, it is possible that the pollutants are associated with agricultural and mining activity, floodgate (El Guájaro Reservoir with Repelón ID) and the connection with the Canal del Dique (from Magdalena river) (Fig.…”

Mapping Seasonal Variation in the Distribution and Concentration of Heavy Metals Using Water Quality Index and Geographic Information System Based Applications

“…In their study, higher heavy metal concentrations were recorded in rainy season for both water and sediment than in dry season, except for Pb and Cd, which had higher sediment concentrations in the dry season. Also, [31] in their research, which detected concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediments from the El Guájaro Reservoir, it was found that Pb and Hg were not detected in the surface waters of El Guájaro reservoir during the dry season, nor was zinc detected during the wet season; however, the highest concentrations of heavy metals were observed during the wet season. [31] and [22] avers that the concentration of heavy metals varies with seasons.…”

Contaminación por metales pesados en la bahía Cispatá en Córdoba-Colombia y su bioacumulación en macromicetos

“…Posteriormente se molieron en mortero de ágata y los materiales resultantes se codificaron y almacenaron en recipientes herméticos de plástico para su posterior análisis, siguiendo el mismo protocolo para el sustrato hospedero. Las muestras de sedimento se homogenizaron y se secaron hasta peso constante en un horno con circulación de aire a 50 °C y tamizándose a 2 mm (Moyano et al, 2010;Torregrosa-Espinoza et al, 2018). Los contenidos de metales pesados fueron determinados por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica, con llama de aire-acetileno (Mn, Ni, Cr, Co), vapor frío (Hg) y mediante voltametría (Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn).…”