DETERMINACIÓN DEL CONTENIDO DE FÓSFORO Y ARSÉNICO, Y DE OTROS METALES CONTAMINANTES DE LAS AGUAS SUPERFICIALES DEL RÍO COATA, AFLUENTE DEL LAGO TITICACA, PERÚ

Abstract

Abstract The contents of phosphorus, arsenic, aluminum, iron and manganese in the surface waters of the Coata River, tributary of Lake Titicaca, department of Puno, Peru, were measured. The measurements were made at two times of the year: sewer and avenue, and were applied at five strategic points on the Coata River, from the Independence Bridge in the city of Juliaca to its mouth on Lake Titicaca. The inductive coupling plasma (ICP) technique consisting of an ionization source and an optical emission spectrophotometer (OES) was used to determine the elements. The measurements of the concentrations were made by atomic emission spectrometry. The maximum concentrations determined were: aluminum 1,043 mg / L, iron 0.856 mg / L, manganese 0.460 mg / L, arsenic 0.029 mg / L and phosphorus 10,287 mg / L, indices that exceed the permissible limits established in the Environmental Quality Standards of Ministry of Environment of Peru. The thus detected contamination of river waters has its origin in the uncontrolled and untreated discharge of wastewater and solid waste from the city of Juliaca, Puno, Peru.