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Arcega-Cabrera F, León-Aguirre K, Enseñat-Soberanis F, Giácoman-Vallejos G, Rodríguez-Fuentes G, Oceguera-Vargas I, Lamas-Cosío E, Simoes N. Use of Microbiological and Chemical Data to Evaluate the Effects of Tourism on Water Quality in Karstic Cenotes in Yucatan, Mexico. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2023; 111:6. [PMID: 37351721 PMCID: PMC10289987 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-023-03761-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Cenotes are spectacular karst formations in Yucatan, Mexico, often used for recreation. However, their impact on water quality has yet to be explored in detail. Therefore, during Easter, water samples were collected from four cenotes to identify variations in water quality associated with the presence of tourists. PCO of water quality, before (PH) and during Holy Week (HW) in 2019, explained 49.02% of the total variation. The indicators contributing to the first principal coordinate's variation were Sr, K, sulfate, and chloride (0.89). Whereas, alkalinity, temperature, conductivity, nitrate, and ORP contributed to the second PC. PERMANOVA indicated a significant interaction between "cenote" and "condition" factors, and post hoc paired comparisons indicated significant differences between PH and HW conditions. Significant correlations varied among the four cenotes as the result of hydrogeological differences. Whereas, numbers of visitors were correlated with at least one fecal-matter indicator, demonstrating anthropogenic influence on the cenotes' water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flor Arcega-Cabrera
- Unidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo Sisal, Yucatán, 97355, México.
| | - Karina León-Aguirre
- Unidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo Sisal, Yucatán, 97355, México
| | - Fernando Enseñat-Soberanis
- Facultad de Ciencias Antropológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Km 1 Carr. Mérida-Tizimin, Mérida, Yucatán, 97305, México
| | - Germán Giácoman-Vallejos
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Av. Industrias No Contaminantes por Anillo Periférico Norte, Apdo. Postal 150, Mérida, Yucatán, México
| | - Gabriela Rodríguez-Fuentes
- Unidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo Sisal, Yucatán, 97355, México
| | - Ismael Oceguera-Vargas
- Unidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo Sisal, Yucatán, 97355, México
| | - Elizabeth Lamas-Cosío
- Unidad de Química en Sisal, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo Sisal, Yucatán, 97355, México
| | - Nuno Simoes
- Facultad de Ciencias, UMDI-Sisal, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto de Abrigo S/N, Sisal, 97356, Mexico
- International Chair for Coastal and Marine Studies, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A and M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, USA
- Laboratorio Nacional de Resiliencia Costera (LANRESC), Laboratorios Nacionales, CONACYT, Sisal, 97356, Mexico
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Leon-Borges JA, Aguirre-García GJ, Silva VM, Lizardi-Jiménez MA. Hydrocarbons and other risks in a beekeeping area of México: the precautionary principle for prevention and biotechnology for remediation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:69499-69513. [PMID: 37140869 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-27370-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The Yucatan Peninsula is the most important beekeeping region. However, the presence of hydrocarbons and pesticides violates the human right to a healthy environment twice over; it can affect human beings directly due to its toxicological characteristics, but it also constitutes a risk, not very well dimensioned, regarding the loss of biodiversity of the ecosystem via the impact on pollination. On the other hand, the precautionary principle obliges the authorities to prevent damage to the ecosystem that may be caused by the productive activity of individuals. Although there are studies that separately warn about the decrease of bees in the Yucatan due to industrial activity, this work has the novelty of presenting an intersectoral analysis of the risk that includes the soy industry, the swine industry and the tourist industry. The latter incorporates a new risk not considered until now, which is the presence of hydrocarbons in the ecosystem. Additionally, we can demonstrate that hydrocarbons, such as diesel and gasoline, should be avoided when using no genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in bioreactors. The objective of this work was to propose the precautionary principle around the risks in a beekeeping area and to propose biotechnology without using GMOs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Violeta Mendezcarlo Silva
- Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, 2da. Sección, C. P. 78210, San Luis Potosí , San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Manuel Alejandro Lizardi-Jiménez
- CONACyT-Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, MDH, LGAC Estudios Sociales, Sierra Leona 550, 2da. Sección, C. P. 78210, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
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Wang MH, Chen CF, Albarico FPJB, Chen CW, Dong CD. Occurrence and distribution of phthalate esters and microplastics in wastewater treatment plants in Taiwan and their toxicological risks. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 307:135857. [PMID: 35940417 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Phthalate esters (PAEs) are fat soluble synthetic chemicals, usually regarded as plasticizers for being added in numerous plastic products. Thus, environmental and health hazards of PAEs are associated with increasing plastic pollution. In this study, PAEs from sludge samples collected from water, sewage, and industrial treatment plants (N = 17) were analyzed using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Microplastics (MPs) were also quantified and correlated with PAEs. Results showed the highest average PAE concentrations in sewage treatment plants. The greatest ΣPAEs concentration were found in sewage treatment plant (STP4) with 32,414 μg/kg dw, while the lowest found in water treatment plant (WTP3) with 2062 μg/kg dw. Among different PAEs, di-(2-ethyl hexyl) phthalate (DEHP) contributes the highest. Similarly, DEHP, di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP) and diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) significantly correlated with the total PAEs indicating their large contribution to sludge contamination. The abundance of microplastics in sludge ranged between 1 and 7 MP/g, highest at ITP6, but not detected in some stations. While microplastics may potentially increase PAEs, there was no significant relationship between ΣPAEs and MP abundance. The estimated human daily intake of DEHP and di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) when contaminated sludge be used showed low toxicological risks to exposed adults. This research presents the sludge characteristics, PAEs, and microplastic concentrations in different wastewater treatment plants in Taiwan. PAE contamination was highly contributed by domestic and industrial wastes shown by their significant amounts in STP and ITP. Results further provide evidence for potential sludge recycling (WTP sludge) and application to soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Huang Wang
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Feng Chen
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan
| | - Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan; Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, 81157, Taiwan; College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Sagay City, 6122, Philippines
| | - Chiu-Wen Chen
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Di Dong
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan.
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Chang L, Ming X, Groves C, Ham B, Wei C, Yang P. Nitrate fate and decadal shift impacted by land use change in a rural karst basin as revealed by dual nitrate isotopes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 299:118822. [PMID: 35016981 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.118822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Nitrate pollution in oxygenated karst aquifers is common due to nitrification and anthropogenic inputs. However, the shift of nitrogen sources influenced by enhanced rural tourism activities and land use changes are not well understood. In this study, hydrochemistry and dual nitrate isotopes of water samples from a rural karst basin in Chongqing, southwestern China were employed to investigate the nitrate fate and its decadal change during the periods from 2007-2008 and 2017-2019. The results showed that δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 values at the groundwater basin resurgence averaged 9 ± 3.4‰ and 2.5 ± 3.4‰, respectively, with a mean NO3- concentration of 19.7 ± 5.4 mg/L in 2017-2019, clearly exceeding natural background levels. The dual isotope results suggested that nitrification occurred at the sampled sites. From 2007-2008 to 2017-2019, the mean δ15N-NO3 values from the primary sink point and the resurgence of the underground river water samples increased from -0.2 ± 2.1 to 11.2 ± 4.8‰, 4.2 ± 0.9 to 9.0 ± 3.4‰, respectively. A Bayesian mixing model in R (MixSIAR) based on the isotopes revealed that soil organic nitrogen, and manure and sewage proportions for the groundwater increased by 34% and 23%, respectively, while chemical fertilizer and atmospheric precipitation proportions decreased by 32% and 25%, respectively. These decadal changes resulted from reforestation practices and enhanced rural tourism activities in the basin, which were evidenced by the change of land use patterns. The elevated nitrogen load from the rapid development of rural tourism is likely to increase this contamination in the near future if the infrastructure cannot meet the demands. The results from this study could contribute to minimizing environmental health risks in drinking water when rural tourism activities are increasing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longran Chang
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; National Base of International S&T Collaboration on Water Environmental Monitoring and Simulation in TGR Region, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Xiaoxing Ming
- State Cultivation Base of Eco-agriculture for Southwest Mountainous Land, Field Scientific Observation & Research Base of Karst Eco-environments at Nanchuan in Chongqing, Ministry of Nature Resources of the People's Republic of China, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Chris Groves
- Crawford Hydrology Laboratory, Department of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 42101, USA; UNESCO Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Region, Mammoth Cave, KY, 42259, USA
| | - Brian Ham
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Resources, Nashville, TN, 37243, USA
| | - Chaofu Wei
- College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; National Base of International S&T Collaboration on Water Environmental Monitoring and Simulation in TGR Region, Chongqing, 400716, China
| | - Pingheng Yang
- State Cultivation Base of Eco-agriculture for Southwest Mountainous Land, Field Scientific Observation & Research Base of Karst Eco-environments at Nanchuan in Chongqing, Ministry of Nature Resources of the People's Republic of China, School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China; Crawford Hydrology Laboratory, Department of Geography and Geology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, 42101, USA; Key Laboratory of Karst Ecosystem and Treatment of Rocky Desertification, Ministry of Natural Resources, IRCK by UNESCO, Guilin, 541004, China.
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Jariyasopit N, Harner T, Shin C, Park R. The effects of plume episodes on PAC profiles in the athabasca oil sands region. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 282:117014. [PMID: 33823311 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Summer intensive air measurements of alkylated polycyclic aromatic compounds (Alk-PACs), nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs), and oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OPAHs) was conducted during the summer of 2013 at an air monitoring site near the community of Fort McKay in the Athabasca oil sands region (AOSR). This study uses the ambient air measurements in conjunction with supplementary meteorological and air quality data from coordinated ground- and aircraft-based sampling over the same period to characterize diurnal variations and changes in the organic air pollutant profiles associated with the plume episodes. Principal component analysis showed a distinct PAC profile during plume episodes, driven mainly by higher fluorenone (FLO) and 9,10-anthraquinone (ANQ) concentrations. During the plume episodes (August 23-24), means of NPAHs and OPAHs concentrations were 120 and 2020 pg/m3, respectively, which were 2.7 and 2.5 times higher than those measured on the other days, while Alk-PACs did not reach maxima. The relative constancy of Alk-PACs during the plume episodes and baseline air quality periods likely reflects a continuous and broad emission of Alk-PACs from the oil sands mining activities. Only four OPAHs, including FLO, ANQ, benzo(a)fluorenone, and benzanthrone, exhibited higher average daytime than nighttime concentrations (p-value < 0.05). Categorizing air samples into clean and polluted conditions demonstrated that the polluted condition air samples were characterized by higher percent composition of alkylated fluorenes, FLO, MANQ, and photochemically-derived 1M4NN. A comparison of PAC profiles in air samples and oil sand ore samples suggests that the NPAHs were likely influenced by atmospheric formation while the OPAHs were impacted by a combination of primary sources and atmospheric formation. The strong correlations found between a number of NPAHs and OPAHs, and PM2.5 and NOx in this study could support the modelling of ambient air burdens of these compounds across the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narumol Jariyasopit
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment Canada and Climate Change, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 5T4, Canada; Metabolomics and Systems Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand; Siriraj Metabolomics and Phenomics Center, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Tom Harner
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment Canada and Climate Change, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 5T4, Canada.
| | - Cecilia Shin
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment Canada and Climate Change, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 5T4, Canada
| | - Richard Park
- Air Quality Processes Research Section, Environment Canada and Climate Change, Toronto, Ontario, M3H 5T4, Canada
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