Seasonal variation of heavy metals in surface water of the Ananea river contaminated by artisanal mining, Peru

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this research work is to evaluate the effects of mining tailings leak on the water quality of the Ananea river, which contain heavy metals. For which techniques such as taking surface water samples were applied at five strategic points, programming two sampling campaigns; one in the rainy season (March) and the other in the dry season (June). Heavy metal concentrations were determined by the EPA METHOD 200.7 Atomic Emission Spectrometry method; The results show that the highest concentrations were recorded at the M-1 sampling point for both the dry season and the rainy season. These concentrations are well above the peruvian Environmental Quality Standards (WQS) for water. In the same way, point M-1 was identified as the most critical and vulnerable to contamination in the study area by heavy metals that are above WQS. Likewise, the survey technique was applied, for which a question sheet was prepared for the surrounding population according to the activities carried out in this part of the basin, obtaining data to determine the effects caused by mining pollution on the surrounding life. In conclusion, the quality of the waters of the Ananea River are contaminated by the presence of heavy metals and these have been causing negative effects to all the surrounding life found in the study area.