Title: | "Integral assessment of pollution in the Suquia River (Cordoba, Argentina) as a contribution to lotic ecosystem restoration programs" |
Author(s): | Merlo C; Abril A; Ame MV; Arguello GA; Carreras HA; Chiappero MS; Hued AC; Wannaz E; Galanti LN; Monferran MV; Gonzalez CM; Solis VM; |
Address: | "Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Av. Valparaiso s/n. Ciudad Universitaria, cc 509, CP 5000, Cordoba, Argentina. cmerlo@agro.unc.edu.ar" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.037 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-1026 (Electronic) 0048-9697 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The Suquia River lower-middle basin (Cordoba, Argentina) is subject to a strong anthropic impact because it receives pollutants from different sources (industries, wastewaters, heavy traffic, agricultural land use, etc.) We have assessed the degree of watershed degradation of Suquia River lower-middle sections through the analysis of different ecosystem compartments (air, water, riparian soil, sediments and biota), in order to provide useful data to be considered in future river restoration programs. Four study sites were selected along the river (La Calera city, Cordoba city, Corazon de Maria village and Rio Primero city) which were sampled during the low- and high-water flow periods. We analyzed: a) chemical and physical characteristics of water, sediments, and riparian soil; b) heavy metal content of water and sediments, and c) semi-volatile organic compounds in air. Besides, pollutant bioindicators such as fish assemblages, lichens (Usnea amblyoclada), vascular plants (Tradescantia pallida), and microorganisms (fecal coliform and Escherichia coli) were used to further assess the status of the river. All analyzed ecological compartments were affected by water pollution, particularly, fish assemblages, sediments and riparian soils by heavy metal and coliform bacteria. Moreover, we detected a possible contribution of sulfur and a high pollutant content in air that merit further research about other air-water exchanges. Accordingly, we strongly suggest that an action to restore or remediate the anthropic effect on the Suquia River be extended to all possible compartments along the river" |
Keywords: | "Air Pollutants/*analysis Argentina *Ecosystem Enterobacteriaceae/chemistry Environmental Monitoring/methods/*statistics & numerical data Environmental Restoration and Remediation/methods Geologic Sediments/*analysis Lichens/chemistry Metals, Heavy/analysi;" |
Notes: | "MedlineMerlo, C Abril, A Ame, M V Arguello, G A Carreras, H A Chiappero, M S Hued, A C Wannaz, E Galanti, L N Monferran, M V Gonzalez, C M Solis, V M eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2011/09/20 Sci Total Environ. 2011 Nov 1; 409(23):5034-45. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.037. Epub 2011 Sep 16" |