Abstract

CHACON CHUMACERO, Karla Ozuky; PINEDO ALVAREZ, Carmelo  and  RENTERIA VILLALOBOS, Marusia. Assessment of trace elements in river and spring water from Ocampo mining area, Chihuahua, Mexico. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2016, vol.32, n.4, pp.375-384. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/rica.2016.32.04.01.

The forestry industry and gold mining contribute to more than 80 % of the economy of the temperate ecoregion of Chihuahua, Mexico. The aim of this work was to assess the concentrations of some trace elements in water samples from the rivers and the springs in the surrounding environment of the gold-silver runner mining in the Ocampo district. It is located in the center-west of Chihuahua, Mexico. Water sampling was performed on rivers and springs, which are the main water supply sources for human consumption. Temperature, total dissolved solids, turbidity and pH parameters were measured in situ. Some mayor (Ca and Mg) and trace elements (Li, Ni, Sb, Se, Cu, and Zn) were quantified by inductively coupled plasma of optical emission. The average of Ca concentration in water was higher in rivers than in springs, whereas Mg contents were only detected in river water. Trace elements measured in waters of river and spring were in decrease trend Ni ˃ Cu ˃ Zn ˃ Li > Se > Sb. The highest trace element concentrations were found in an area highly impacted by activities related to the mining. Most of trace elements concentrations assessed in this work were lower than limits for drinking water marked by Unites States Environmental Protection Agency and Mexican regulations. However, concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Zn obtained in water from rivers are higher than Canadian guidelines for protection of the aquatic life. Although, elemental concentrations determined here are below of the allowed limits, these studies are important because the water in this region have different uses such as human consumption, water supply to agricultural lands, and to industry.

Keywords : heavy metal; affected area.

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