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Contamination Level and Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediments of El Guájaro Reservoir, Colombia

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Abstract

Heavy metals have become a subject of special concern worldwide, mainly due to high persistence in the environment, toxicity, biogeochemical recycling and ecological risk. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to analyze the spatial–temporal distribution of heavy metals in water and sediments to determine the environmental status of El Guájaro Reservoir, where such studies have not been developed. Two measurement campaigns (dry and wet period) were carried out and eight sampling stations were selected. A comparison of water and sediment quality parameters with existing national and international regulations was done. Also, heavy metal distribution maps were generated, and the geoaccumulation index was calculated to identify sources and sediments contamination level. Based on the obtained results, agriculture and mining activities are the main causes of the reservoir contamination. This metals levels could be a potential risk for the aquatic life and the populations that are supplied from this water body.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thanks to Tito Crissien, General Manager of Universidad de la Costa. His collaboration and support was invaluable for developing the research project INV.1106-01-001-11. Authors acknowledge and appreciate the participation of Karols Scaldaferro, Maria Franco, Mercedes Benitez, Laura Blanco, Ana Milena Ariza and Luz Daniela Sampayo for their continued support during the sampling campaigns to fulfill their bachelor thesis. And special thanks to the Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Management at the Universidad de Córdoba for the chemical analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Engineering Faculty, Universidad de la Costa, Street 58 No. 55 – 66, Barranquilla, Colombia

    Ana Carolina Torregroza-Espinosa, Eliana Martínez-Mera & Daniel Castañeda-Valbuena

  2. Department of Engineering and Technology, Universidad de Occidente, Universidad Avenue, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

    Luis Carlos González-Márquez

  3. Department of Environmental Engineering, Universidad de Córdoba, Street 6 No. 76 – 103, Montería, Colombia

    Franklin Torres-Bejarano

Authors
  1. Ana Carolina Torregroza-Espinosa
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  2. Eliana Martínez-Mera
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  3. Daniel Castañeda-Valbuena
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  4. Luis Carlos González-Márquez
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  5. Franklin Torres-Bejarano
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Correspondence to Franklin Torres-Bejarano.

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Torregroza-Espinosa, A.C., Martínez-Mera, E., Castañeda-Valbuena, D. et al. Contamination Level and Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals in Water and Sediments of El Guájaro Reservoir, Colombia. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 101, 61–67 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2365-x

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