Abstract

ARGOTA PEREZ, George  and  ARGOTA COELLO, Humberto. Environmental evaluation of San Juan river in Santiago de Cuba due to bioaccumulative exposure to heavy metals. MEDISAN [online]. 2012, vol.16, n.8, pp.1207-1214. ISSN 1029-3019.

The environmental health of San Juan river in Santiago de Cuba, exposed to heavy metals was evaluated by means of the bioregulatory species Gambusia punctata. Two hundred and seventy five adults were analyzed and classified by sex, for whom the intervals of age classes 2.1-3.0 and 3.1-4.0 cm were chosen, according to the total longitude, respectively. The applied acid mixture was composed by perchloric acid - sulphuric acid; (7:1) nitric acid to determine the bioaccumulated levels in liver, branchiae and brain as target organs. The analyzed metals: copper, zinc, lead and cadmium, were quantified by means of spectrometry by plasma inductively coupled with axial view. There were significant differences (p <0.05) in the bioaccumulated values between intervals and sexes. It was concluded that the levels of bioaccumulated heavy metals overcame the permissible values, so that they represent an environmental risk in the quality of those waters.

Keywords : environmental health; water; river; heavy metal; bioaccumulation; Gambusia punctata.

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