Technical Study of Agricultural Products, Animals, Soil and Water in Colquechaca and Pocoata Municipalities from Chayanta Province Northern Potosi

Abstract

Studies carried out in the municipalities of Colquechaca and Pocoata Northern Potosi demonstrated high heavy metal contamination, result of the intervention of the mining operators in the region who, by pouring their liquid and salid waste in the river, tend to spread the pollution beyond their own localities. Unfortunately, this pollution affects even the Municipality of Pocoata, and the village of Macha, in the municipality of Colquechaca, which are characterized by their agricultural activity. Previous studies developed by the XX Century University, showed pollution values in their trials. In the same way this work, developed by the Center for Action to Change ­ Bolivia, presented results of high contamination of heavy metals in various localities in which íntervened, taking samples of water, soil, plants and animal blood. While in the found values a decrease is observed from the points of greatest contamination found in Colquechaca, to the points sampled beyond Pocoata, such as Okhoruru, it did draw attention to the soils had quite high levels and, above all, uncorrelated between arrays soil, plant and animal blood, as in the cadmium Viscachiri parameter. We should mention that this study was only conducted in the wet ar rainy season, which to sorne extent dueto a dilution effect, could not show more pollution in the river water that is generally used in irrigation.