Concentraciones de metales pesados (mercurio, plomo, cadmio y arsénico) en sangre de habitantes de la región de La Mojana, Colombia

Abstract

The region of La Mojana is an important area of the country, it does not perform mining, but has been subjected to pollution processes related to gold mining and ferronickel and coal mining that takes place in its surroundings; In this investigation the concentrations of mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic were determined in blood samples from 813 inhabitants of the 11 municipality of the Mojana region. The mercury concentrations were determined by means of a direct mercury analyzer (Mylestone DMA 80 Tri Cell) and lead, cadmium and arsenic were performed atomic absorption spectrometry according to the EPA 7010 method. Arsenic was recorded by a higher percentage of individuals with concentrations above the established reference value as no risk of adverse health effects (1 μg / L), with more than 50% of participants in all municipalities exceeding this value. The blood Hg concentrations of the inhabitants of San Jacinto del Cauca were (86.5%), Achí (80%), Nechí (60%), Ayapel (54.4%) and Guaranda (41.4) with concentrations above the value of reference (5 μg / L), the concentrations registered in lead and cadmium are lower than those established as without risk of adverse effects for human health (lead = 5 μg / dL, Cadmium = 1 μg / L).