Heavy metals in water of the San Pedro River in Chihuahua, Mexico and its potential health risk

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the seasonal and downstream water quality variations of the San Pedro River in Chihuahua, Mexico. Water samples were collected monthly from October 2005 to August 2006 in triplicate, totaling 165 water samples. The five sampling locations were: below the Francisco I. Madero dam (LP); between Rosales and Delicias (RD); Meoqui (M); El Torreon (ET), and Julimes (LJ). The levels of As, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, Ti, Ta, V and Zn were measured using an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) Perkin Elmer 2100. In addition, temperature, pH, electrical conductivity and total and fecal coliformes were determined. The statistical analysis considered a factorial treatment design; where factor A was the location point and factor B was sampling date. In addition, a multivariate technique looking for principal components was performed. The results indicated that some samples exceeded Mexican standards for As, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr and Zn. The As level must be considered for a red flag to the communities along the Rio San Pedro because both the monthly average level (0.10 mg L−1) and location (0.10 mg L−1) exceeded the Mexican and International norms. The multivariate analysis showed a predominant aggregation at the LP location, meaning that there was a predominance of As, Sr, Fe and Li. At the rest of the locations the elements did not present a tendency for aggregation. Statistics applied to sampling month showed that December, January, March and April were aggregated in a negative quadrant of component 1 indicating a predominance of V, Ni, Be, Fe and As. Overall, the results confirmed that this stretch of the San Pedro River is contaminated with heavy metals and other contaminants that might affect human health as well as the health of the ecosystem.

Characterization of lead and arsenic levels in sediment of the lower basin of the San Pedro River, Mexico and its importance regarding human health

“…Here, we must recall that LP is the higher location and this result may be explained by lixiviation due to water irrigation. It is interesting to note that Gutierrez et al [11] found values of Pb in the water in the same locations points of 0.019 mg L (LJ) that are comparatively less than the values noted in this research, meaning that this element precipitates and accumulates over years. The Pb concentration reported in this study is generally lower than that reported by Rubio et al [5] in some Mexican soils; likewise, in soils of India with 10.4 mg kg -1 [20] and Japan with 21 mg kg -1 [21].…”

“…The higher As mean concentration was observed in RD with 14.56 mg kg -1 which was detected in December, compared to the LJ location where the concentration was 1.11 mg kg -1 . Gutierrez et al [11] who in a water sample study of the Rio San Pedro, detected the level of metals and metalloids, found high variability for As concentration concerning both sampling location and sampling month. These authors reported that the As concentration in water was higher than the values of the Mexican and International standards for drinking water.…”

“…Detecting metal in water is the first step in explaining some of the pathology and becoming aware of the level of metals in sediments or soils. Gutierrez et al [11] conducted research concerning the level of metals in water of the San Pedro River located in Chihuahua, Mexico. Although to our knowledge there is no information about the level of metals in sediments of this river.…”

Water Quality in Tortum Stream and its Tributaries (Erzurum/Turkey)

“…The quality of a river at any point reflects several major influences, including the lithology of the basin, atmospheric inputs, climatic conditions and anthropogenic inputs (Bricker and Jones 1995). On the other hand, river water quality is influenced not only by natural processes including soil erosion, precipitation and seasonal variation but also by anthropogenic activities, such as the construction of reservoirs, urban developments, and runoff from industrial/hazard waste sites and adjacent sewage treatment plants (Kelley and Hudson 2007;Su and Yang 2008;Gutierrez et al 2008). …”

Exploratory Analysis of Sediment Geochemistry to Determine the Source and Dispersion of Ba, Fe, Mn, Pb and Cu and in Chihuahua, Northern Mexico

“…With scarce water, decreasing infiltration rates, and widespread pollution, maintaining a clean source of water is a challenge that intensifies with time. Contaminants of concern in the Chihuahuan Desert include arsenic and fluoride (Espino-Valdes, Barrera-Prieto, & Herrera-Peraza, 2009;Reyes-Gómez et al, 2010), heavy metals (Gutiérrez, Rubio-Arias, Quintana, Ortega, & Gutiérrez, 2008b;Hernández-García, Sosa-Cerecedo, Moreno, Alcalá, & Puga, 2008), radioactive elements (Colmenero Sujo et al, 2004), and soil salinity (Gutiérrez, Martínez-Pina, Luo, & Mickus, 2008a). Despite the economic importance of this area and the pressing nature of these environmental concerns, a regional characterization of the distribution of contaminants has not been conducted.…”