Evaluation of the distribution of heavy metals and arsenic in inland wetlands (Peru) using multivariate statistical methods

Custodio M.; Peñaloza R. · Ecological Engineering and Environmental Technology (2021) · DOI: 10.12912/27197050/135522

Resumen

Heavy metals in the environment circulate among the different compartments and can accumulate, convert into organic complexes and biomagnify in the food chain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the distribution of heavy metals and arsenic in inland wetlands using multivariate statistical methods. Samples of water, sediment and aquatic vegetation were collected at 48 sampling sites established in the Paca and Tragadero lagoon wetlands. The determination of heavy metals and arsenic was carried out using the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The decreasing order of heavy metal and arsenic concentration in sediment was Fe>Zn>Pb>As, in water it was Zn>Fe>Pb>As and in S. californicus it was Zn>Fe>Pb>As. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that there are significant differences in heavy metal and arsenic concentrations in sediment between ponds and between sampling sites. Generalized linear model (GLM) analysis on vegetables indicated that the concentrations of heavy metals and arsenic in the vegetable increase as a function of their concentration in sediment.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional del Centro del Perú