Arsénico inorgánico en trabajadores mineros expuestos

Abstract

In the upper part of the province of El Oro (Por-tovelo- Sector Pache), mining activities are carried out that leave heavy metals in their waste in a free state, such is the case of arsenic, which contaminates the hydrographic basins. Arsenic has an esta-blished carcinogenic value of 1.5 mg / kg / day, the risks are lung, skin and liver cancer. The objective was to evaluate the biochemical parameters and cli-nical manifestations in mining workers, exposed to inorganic arsenic, to establish the exposure levels and propose awareness campaigns in the popula-tion. Methodologically, inorganic arsenic concentra-tions were determined in urine samples of exposed mining workers, who work around the Calera river watershed. The samples were subjected to diges-tion processes, for their subsequent analysis by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. The average value of arsenicals in exposed and unex-posed mining workers in Jesús del Gran Poder and San Antonio, exceeded the I Biological Exposure In-dex (IBE, 0.035 mg / l); with a value of 0.3 mg / l in San Antonio, followed by Jesús del Gran Poder with 0.15 mg / l, in the group of those exposed.