Hydrocarbon pollution studies of underwater sinkholes along Quintana Roo as a function of tourism development in the Mexican Caribbean

Estudios de contaminación por hidrocarburos en cenotes de Quintana Roo relacionada al desarrollo turístico en el Caribe Mexicano

S.A. Medina-Moreno¹, A. Jiménez-González¹, M. Gutiérrez-Rojas², M.A. Lizardi-Jiménez¹*

¹ Universidad Politécnica de Pachuca, Carretera Pachuca-Cd. Sahagun, km 20, Ex-Hacienda de Santa Bárbara, Municipio de Zempoala Hidalgo. *Corresponding author. E-mail: chamarripas@yahoo.com.mx Tel. Fax + (771)2118365, Fax + (771)2118365.

² Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, Iztapalapa, México, D.F. C.P. 09340, México.

Received March 3, 2013.
Accepted May 21, 2014.

Abstract

This work studied in a wide geographical area during two vacational seasons, the presence of hydrocarbon contaminants in sinkholes along the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, an important caribeann tourism region. Phenanthrene, naphthalene and benzene derivates were found as the most common hydrocarbon contaminants present in underwater sinkholes located in Cancún and Playa del Carmen, two well-developed tourism poles. Other regions of Quintana Roo, with intermediate tourism development (Puerto Morelos, Tulum, Cozumel and Bacalar) show hydrocarbon presence too. In comparison, Holbox which is a recent touristic development where the use of motor transportation for tourists and locals is less common, has not reached the contamination level of Cancun or Playa del Carmen nor the pollution level of intermediate tourism development poles as Tulum or Cozumel. Concentration of hydrocarbons is related to vacational seasons, sinkholes during "High" season shows major hydrocarbon concentration and diversity than during "Low" season.

Keywords: airlift bioreactor, hydrocarbon, water pollution, tourism, sinkholes.

Resumen

En este trabajo se estudió, en una amplia zona geográfica y dos temporadas vacacionales, la presencia de hidrocarburos contaminantes en cenotes del estado de Quintana Roo, una región turística importante en el Caribe. Se encontró Fenantreno, naftaleno y benceno entre los hidrocarburos contaminantes más comunes presentes en los cenotes ubicados en Cancún y Playa del Carmen, dos polos turísticos bien desarrollados. Otras regiones de Quintana Roo, con desarrollo de turismo intermedio (Puerto Morelos, Tulum, Cozumel y Bacalar) muestran la presencia de hidrocarburos también. En comparación, Holbox, que es un reciente polo de desarrollo turístico, donde el transporte de turistas y lugareños es bajo, no presenta contaminación por los hidrocarburos estudiados en este trabajo. La concentración de hidrocarburos también está relacionada con la temporada turística, los cenotes durante la temporada "alta" mostraron mayor concentración y diversidad de hidrocarburos que en la temporada "baja".

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