La degradación ambiental en la Amazonía ecuatoriana

Abstract

Desde el punto de vista ambiental y de la conservación de los recursos naturales, la Amazonia norte del Ecuador es la principal fuente de agua dulce del país y la de mayor degradación por la actividad petrolera. Se evaluó la calidad de agua presente en la zona de amortiguamiento del Parque Nacional Ya suni en tres fases. En la primera se muestrearon 56 puntos de aguas superficiales en la zona nor-occidental del parque, los sitios de muestreo fueron ubicados cerca y lejos de zonas pobladas e industriales (petroleras) e identificados 16 puntos críticos. En la segunda fase se evaluó los puntos críticos y otros localizados dentro del parque. En la tercera fase se determino la calidad de aguas y sedimentos en los 16 puntos críticos y las fuentes de aguas de consumo humano en la Comunidad El Edén. Sitios cercanos a la actividad hidrocarburifera presentaron altos niveles de conductividad eléctrica, carga orgánica, hidrocarburos totales de petróleo y metales pesados. Los sedimentos muestreados dentro- del parque presentaron cadmio, níquel y plomo con valores de contaminación superiores a los encontrados en zonas de baja influencia industrial. La demanda química de oxigeno indica..........

From environmental and conservationist points of view, the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon is the country’s main source of fresh water and the most degraded by the oil industry. This study evaluated water quality in the buffer zone of the Yasuni National Park. In the first stage, 56 samples of superficial water were taken from the park’s northwestern zone. Samples were collected from sites at various distances from populated and industrial oil zones, with 16 critical points being identified. In the second phase, critical sites were evaluated and other points were identified. In the third phase, quality of water and sediments were assessed in the critical points, as well as the sources of water for human consumption in the El Edén community. Sites closer to oil plants presented high levels of electric conductivity, organic matter, total oil hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Sediments sampled within the park presented cadmium, nickel and lead at higher contamination levels when compared to those from zones of low oil industry influence. The chemical demand for oxygen indicates that degraded organic matter from industrial and domestic sources is unlikely to exist in higher amounts than that found in nature. Although there o was a decrease in the amount of total and fecal coliforms, the tests confirm that all w’ater sources are not recommended for human consumption and domestic use without previous treatment. In 25 % of the sites, the concentration of total oil hydrocarbons was 50 times higher than the allowed amount for potable water.