Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mining-Affected River Sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands
Heavy metal contamination in rivers is a serious environmental and public health concern, especially in areas affected by mining. This study evaluated the levels of contamination and the associated ecological and carcinogenic risks in the sediments of the Cunas River, located in the central highland...
| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
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MDPI
2025
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12955/2938 https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090783 |
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| author | Custodio, María Pizarro Carcausto, Samuel Edwin Huarcaya, Javier Ortega Quispe, Kevin Abner Ccopi Trucios, Dennis |
| author_browse | Ccopi Trucios, Dennis Custodio, María Huarcaya, Javier Ortega Quispe, Kevin Abner Pizarro Carcausto, Samuel Edwin |
| author_facet | Custodio, María Pizarro Carcausto, Samuel Edwin Huarcaya, Javier Ortega Quispe, Kevin Abner Ccopi Trucios, Dennis |
| author_sort | Custodio, María |
| collection | Repositorio INIA |
| description | Heavy metal contamination in rivers is a serious environmental and public health concern, especially in areas affected by mining. This study evaluated the levels of contamination and the associated ecological and carcinogenic risks in the sediments of the Cunas River, located in the central highlands of Peru. Sediment samples were collected from upstream and downstream sections. Several metals and metalloids were analyzed, including copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd). The ecological risk assessment focused on ten of these elements, while carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed for seven metals selected based on their toxicological importance. The results showed that Cd and Pb concentrations were higher in the downstream section. Cd and As exceeded ecological risk thresholds. Regarding human health, As and Pb surpassed the acceptable limits for both the Hazard Index (HI) and the Potential Carcinogenic Risk (PCR). According to EPA guidelines, these values indicate a potentially significant lifetime cancer risk. The main exposure routes include direct contact with sediments and the consumption of aquatic organisms. Continuous monitoring, phytoremediation actions, and restrictions on the use of contaminated water are strongly recommended to reduce ecological and health risks. |
| format | info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
| id | INIA2938 |
| institution | Institucional Nacional de Innovación Agraria |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | MDPI |
| publisherStr | MDPI |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | INIA29382025-12-03T15:46:41Z Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mining-Affected River Sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands Custodio, María Pizarro Carcausto, Samuel Edwin Huarcaya, Javier Ortega Quispe, Kevin Abner Ccopi Trucios, Dennis Heavy metal Ecological risk Human health risk River sediments Mining Toxicity Water pollution Metales pesados Riesgo ecológico Riesgo para la salud humana Sedimentos fluviales Minería Toxicidad Contaminación del agua https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.04 Evaluación de riesgos; Risk assessment; Salud humana; Human health; Polución; Pollution; Arsénico; Arsenic; Cadmio; Cadmiun; Plomo; Lead Heavy metal contamination in rivers is a serious environmental and public health concern, especially in areas affected by mining. This study evaluated the levels of contamination and the associated ecological and carcinogenic risks in the sediments of the Cunas River, located in the central highlands of Peru. Sediment samples were collected from upstream and downstream sections. Several metals and metalloids were analyzed, including copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), zinc (Zn), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd). The ecological risk assessment focused on ten of these elements, while carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed for seven metals selected based on their toxicological importance. The results showed that Cd and Pb concentrations were higher in the downstream section. Cd and As exceeded ecological risk thresholds. Regarding human health, As and Pb surpassed the acceptable limits for both the Hazard Index (HI) and the Potential Carcinogenic Risk (PCR). According to EPA guidelines, these values indicate a potentially significant lifetime cancer risk. The main exposure routes include direct contact with sediments and the consumption of aquatic organisms. Continuous monitoring, phytoremediation actions, and restrictions on the use of contaminated water are strongly recommended to reduce ecological and health risks. This research was funded by the INIA project “Mejoramiento de los servicios de investigación y transferencia tecnologica en el manejo y recuperacion de suelos agricolas degradados y aguas para riego en la pequena y mediana agricultura en los departamentos de Lima, Ancash, San Martin, Cajamarca, Lambayeque, Junin, Ayacucho, Arequipa, Puno y Ucayali”, CUI 2487112. It also received support from the Vice-Rectorate for Research of the Universidad Nacional del Centro del Peru-UNCP. 2025-11-12T20:27:22Z 2025-11-12T20:27:22Z 2025-09-16 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Custodio, M., Pizarro, S., Huarcaya, J., Ortega, K., & Ccopi, D. (2025). Ecological and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in mining-affected river sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands. Toxics, 13(9), 783. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090783 2305-6304 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12955/2938 https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090783 eng urn:issn:2305-6304 Toxics info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ application/pdf application/pdf MDPI CH Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria Repositorio Institucional - INIA |
| spellingShingle | Heavy metal Ecological risk Human health risk River sediments Mining Toxicity Water pollution Metales pesados Riesgo ecológico Riesgo para la salud humana Sedimentos fluviales Minería Toxicidad Contaminación del agua https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.04 Evaluación de riesgos; Risk assessment; Salud humana; Human health; Polución; Pollution; Arsénico; Arsenic; Cadmio; Cadmiun; Plomo; Lead Custodio, María Pizarro Carcausto, Samuel Edwin Huarcaya, Javier Ortega Quispe, Kevin Abner Ccopi Trucios, Dennis Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mining-Affected River Sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands |
| title | Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mining-Affected River Sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands |
| title_full | Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mining-Affected River Sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands |
| title_fullStr | Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mining-Affected River Sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mining-Affected River Sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands |
| title_short | Ecological and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Mining-Affected River Sediments in the Peruvian Central Highlands |
| title_sort | ecological and human health risk assessment of heavy metals in mining affected river sediments in the peruvian central highlands |
| topic | Heavy metal Ecological risk Human health risk River sediments Mining Toxicity Water pollution Metales pesados Riesgo ecológico Riesgo para la salud humana Sedimentos fluviales Minería Toxicidad Contaminación del agua https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#4.01.04 Evaluación de riesgos; Risk assessment; Salud humana; Human health; Polución; Pollution; Arsénico; Arsenic; Cadmio; Cadmiun; Plomo; Lead |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12955/2938 https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13090783 |
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