Evaluación de la contaminación del aire mediante la caracterización de metales pesados en sólidos sedimentables en la ciudad de Riobamba.

Abstract

The present research aimed to evaluate air pollution by characterizing heavy metals in sedimentable solids in Riobamba city. The selection of sampling sites was done randomly, from a list of 10 sites within the urban perimeter. It was chosen 6, which were considerer conflictive áreas for various reasons such as the presence of metallurgical, metal-mechanical microenterprises. Also, some places have a large amount of vehicular movement . By using the methodology of Begerhoff collected sedimentable solids every 28 – 32 days, between January to May 2016. The gravimetric method was used to obtain the weight of the solids and to obtain the amount of heavy metals was done by Mass Spectrometry with Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP). The results obtained showed that there are variable amounts of heavy metals. SPSS software factorial analysis shows that there área seven important heavy metals, which were divided into two groups, called micronutrients (Cobalt, Vanadium, Molybdenum, Chromium) and toxicans (Cadmium, Barium, Nickel). The investigación concludes that certain heavy metals are more important. La Merced station accumulates more lead. The station located in Asociacion de Municipalidades del Ecuador (AME) has more Vanadium, Nickel, Aluminium, Barium and Cadmium; The station located in Empresa Municipal de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Riobamba (EMAPAR) accumulates Chromium, Vanadium and Molybdenum. Canónigo Ramos Avenue station has high levels of Copper, Pedro Vicente Maldonado Avenue station has Manganeso and Ceramica station accumulates a lot of solids. It is recommended to implement equipment for monitoring heavy metals in the station: La Merced, AME and Pedro Vicente Maldonado Avenue. Because, there are significant amounts of heavy metals and over time could cause damage to health. Also, It is important continued monitoring to correlate the data of this investigation with the heavy metals contained in PM10 and PM2.5 particulate material.