Evaluación de metales pesados y comportamiento social asociados con la calidad del agua en el río Suches, Puno, Perú
Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Instituto de Investigación en Metalurgia, Materiales y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú, Dante Salas-Ávila, Fermin Francisco Chaiña-Chura, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Instituto de Investigación en Metalurgia, Materiales y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú, Germán Belizario Quispe, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Instituto de Investigación en Metalurgia, Materiales y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú, Edgar Quispe-Mamani, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Instituto de Investigación en Metalurgia, Materiales y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú, Roger Huanqui-Pérez, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Instituto de Investigación en Metalurgia, Materiales y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú, Edilberto Velarde-Coaquira, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Instituto de Investigación en Metalurgia, Materiales y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú, Fernando Bernedo-Colca, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Instituto de Investigación en Metalurgia, Materiales y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú, Dante Salas-Mercado, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Escuela de Posgrado, Programa de Doctorado en Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú, Marián Hermoza-Gutiérrez, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano de Puno, Escuela de Posgrado, Programa de Doctorado en Ciencia, Tecnología y Medio Ambiente, Puno, Perú
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals in the Suches river and to analyze the social behavior of local agents on the quality of water-related to mining activities in Cojata, Puno, Peru. Water and sediment samples were collected from the Suches river for the quantification of As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, and Hg through inductive plasma mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS). The research included the qualitative analysis of the social behavior of the communal agents of Cojata, based on the collection of representative testimonies. Average concentrations of metals in water are below the ECA-category 3 of Peru; however, As (11.52 mg kg-1) and Cd (1.14 mg kg-1) in the sediment samples exceed the limits recommended by the ISQG of Canada. The presence of these metals in the river is due to the discharges generated by excavations and drainage typical of mining activities, as well as the mineralogical composition and natural weathering of rocks in the study area, which would cause negative impacts on the quality of the river water. The social behavior of rejection of mining is based on the collective association of poor water quality related to its turbidity. The various sources of evidence suggest the need for the formalization of mining activities in Cojata, as well as the implementation of improvements in national environmental regulations.