Evaluación de la presencia de Cu, Co, Cd, Pb y As, en sedimentos superficiales mediante espectrofotometría de absorción atómica y diversidad de Anadara tuberculosa y Cardisoma crassum, en tres sectores de los manglares del Estuario del Río Cojimíes

Abstract

The present experimental work evaluated the presence of heavy metals Cu, Co, Cd, Pb and As in surface sediments by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry and the diversity of Anadara tuberculosa and Cardisoma crassum in three sectors of the Cojimíes River Estuary in order to find out if the maximum permissible limits of contamination by heavy metals are exceeded, considering the Ecuadorian, Canadian and American standards, and their relationship with the decrease of species in the study areas, The line of research employed in the project was correlative and experimental; For this reason, the statistical analysis was carried out using the R Studio programme, generating an ANOVA at 95%, while the experimental part used the methodology of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry by flame applied to 15 samples composed of mangrove sludge sediments; in addition, the capture per unit of effort of Anadara tuberculosa and Cardisoma crassum was carried out. Once the count had been carried out, the collected species were released. In addition, in order to obtain data on the historical use of conch and blue crab, interviews were conducted with fishermen, traders and private individuals in the sectors of Cojimíes, Pedro Carbo and San José de Chamanga, considering a population sample with a confidence level of 90%. The interviews were compared with the analysis of the results obtained, demonstrating that the Pedro Carbo sector is the one that collects the least number, obtaining 6 specimens of Cardisoma crassum and 40 specimens of Anadara tuberculosa, having relation with the concentrations of heavy metals in the superficial mangrove sediments, the highest concentration of copper metal was found, In the sector of Pedro Carbo 28.228 mg/kg, San José de Chamanga with 20.564 mg/kg and Cojimíes with 12.62 mg/kg. In addition, based on the Ecuadorian standard, the concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cu and Pb show lower values in the sites studied, except for copper and cobalt which exceed the maximum permissible limit in the sector of Pedro Carbo with 3 (mg/kg) and 1 (mg/kg).