RT journal article
T1 Water quality in the tropical Andes hotspot: The Yacuambi river (southeastern Ecuador)
A1 Villa-Achupallas, Mercedes
A1 Rosado, Daniel
A1 Aguilar, Silvio
A1 Galindo Riaño, María Dolores
A2 Química Analítica
K1 Pollution
K1 Metals
K1 Trace elements
K1 Pesticides
K1 Zamora-Chinchipe
K1 Environmental protection
AB Yacuambi river waters (southeast Ecuador, Amazonian region) were assessed to evaluate the potential risk to populations, who use it for drinking and irrigation, and ecosystems, which are part of Tropical Andes hotspot and considered some of the most biodiverse in the world. The water quality index was calculated and some quality parameters were checked to comply with Ecuadorian and North American standards for human consumption, preservation of aquatic life and irrigation.Four samplings were carried out in six stations covering the entire length of the Yacuambi river. Several parameters were analyzed: pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, color, phosphates, nitrite, nitrate, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total solids, turbidity, metals (Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, As and Hg), pesticides and fecal coliforms.The water quality in the Yacuambi river was good and medium according to the classification of the Water Quality Index. However, it was unsuitable for human consumption, preservation of aquatic life and irrigation according to Ecuadorian and North American standards. Arsenic, color and fecal coliforms exceeded the limits for human consumption in all samples tested. Thresholds of preservation of aquatic life were exceeded in all samples in the case of Pb and in some samples for As, pH, nitrite and nitrate. Arsenic and fecal coliforms made Yacuambi river waters unsuitable for irrigation.
PB ELSEVIER
SN 0048-9697
YR 2018
FD 2018-03-21
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/37691
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/37691
LA eng
NO Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 06-nov-2026