Evaluación de la calidad del agua - índice de arsénico en la quebrada Rasuyacu en la parroquia Toacaso del cantón Latacunga

Abstract

This research constitutes an analysis of the problem of arsenic in the water for agricultural consumption in the Toacaso parish, which is located in the Latacunga canton. The objective of this study is to determine the presence of total arsenic in surface water samples used for consumption in agricultural soils in the Toacaso parish. The evaluation of risks to human health was carried out to estimate the probable risk that is caused by exposure to arsenic through the oral route and the evaluation of the environmental quality of the soils. Arsenic is naturally present at high levels in the groundwater of several countries. Arsenic is highly toxic in its inorganic form. Their greatest threat to public health lies in the use of contaminated water for drinking, preparing food and irrigating food crops. The presence of arsenic in the soil and in the water sources in Toacaso due to natural factors of geological origin associated with the tributaries of the Páramo de los Ilinizas is described. The evaluation of laboratory analyzes and their percentages of arsenic and iron is pertinent and essential, the implementation of a floating islands system (IFA) with the Vetiver species will help us to improve the quality of the water of the reservoirs with difficulties of contamination by heavy metals. already indicated in different irrigation systems that surround the Toacaso parish of the Latacunga canton. To carry out the evaluation of soil contamination and ecological risk, it will be feasible and essential to use indices such as the enrichment factor (FE), the contamination factor (CF) and the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the results of the study or the points intervened in the Toacaso parish indicate low to moderate levels of enrichment of (As) and moderate to considerable contamination. Although the level of enrichment in the sediments of the Páramo Ilinizas is severe due to its discharges and tributaries.