Pathogens and pharmaceuticals pollutants as indicators of contamination at the northeasthern aquifer of Quintana Roo
The objective of this research project was to sample groundwater from touristic to non-touristic wells and sinkholes along the Riviera Maya region, to determine the occurrence, source and extent of the fecal contamination, and establish if the recreational activities of this zone is rising as an anthropogenic contamination source. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most common bio-indicatorsto asses the bacteriological water quality its presence is related with pathogenic health problems associated to anthropogenic influence such as leaks from septic tanks, and raw wastewater. Despite thelimitations and problems associated with the detection of fecal bacteria, this bio-indicator is still present in several water policies around the world. The study zone was located at Puerto Morelos Quintana Roo, where seven groundwater samples were collected from sinkholes and wells. Bacteriological analysis were performed by the chromogenic substrate technique to determine total coliforms and E. coli, molecular microbiology technique allowed for identification of Vibrio spp., and chromatography method was performed to determine the presence or absence of caffeine. At the field, pH, dissolved oxygen and temperature were determined at the collection of the sample by a multiparametric sonde. Alkalinity, nitrate, nitrite, total nitrogen, phosphate, total suspended solid and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were determined at laboratory. The results reveal that fecal contamination in groundwater at the touristic and non-touristic sampled sites is occurring. However the detection ofthe Vibrio spp. and the determination of caffeine makes evident that only in the touristic sites the extent of the contamination implies a human source. The others sources of bacteriological contamination can be linked to the type of coastal ecosystems presented along the area of study.
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | info:eu-repo/semantics/article biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Subjects: | info:eu-repo/classification/Autores/CAFFEINE, info:eu-repo/classification/Autores/FECAL CONTAMINATION, info:eu-repo/classification/Autores/KARSTIC AQUIFER, info:eu-repo/classification/cti/2, |
| Online Access: | http://cicy.repositorioinstitucional.mx/jspui/handle/1003/769 |
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