Papers by Denisse ARCHUNDIA Peralta
Global environmental and toxicological data of emerging plasticizers: current knowledge, regrettable substitution dilemma, green solution and future perspectives
Green chemistry, 2024
Potentially toxic elements in soil–plant–water-animal continuum in a mining area from Northwestern Mexico: animal exposure pathways and health risks for children
Environmental geochemistry and health, Feb 25, 2024
Global Environmental and Toxicological Impacts of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers versus Organophosphate Esters: A Comparative Analysis and Regrettable Substitution Dilemma
Journal of Hazardous Materials, Dec 31, 2023
Science of The Total Environment, 2017
An increasing number of studies pointed out the ubiquitous presence of medical residues in surfac... more An increasing number of studies pointed out the ubiquitous presence of medical residues in surface and ground water as well as in soil compartments. Not only antibiotics can be found in the environment but also their transformation products about which little information is generally available. The development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is particularly worrying as it can lead to sanitary and health problems. Studies about the dissemination of antibiotics and associated resistances in the Bolivian Altiplano are scarce. We provide baseline information on the occurrence of Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and Trimethoprim (TMP) antibiotics as well as on the most common human SMX transformation products (TP) and on the occurrence of sulfonamide resistance genes. The studied water and soil compartments presented high levels of antibiotic pollution. This situation was shown to be mainly linked with uncontrolled discharges of treated and untreated wastewaters, resulting on the presence of antibiotics in the Titicaca Lake. SMX TPs were detected in surface waters and on soil sampled next to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). SMX resistance genes sulI and sulII were widely detected in the basin
Impacts of Anthropogenic Activities on the Contamination of a Sub Watershed of Lake Titicaca. Are Antibiotics a Concern in the Bolivian Altiplano?
Procedia Earth and Planetary Science, 2014
Science of The Total Environment, May 1, 2018
Antibiotics are emergent contaminants that can induce adverse effects in terrestrial and aquatic ... more Antibiotics are emergent contaminants that can induce adverse effects in terrestrial and aquatic organisms. The surface water compartment is of particular concern as it receives direct waste water discharge. Modeling is highlighted as an essential tool to understand the fate and behavior of these compounds and to assess their ecotoxicological risk. This study aims at testing the ability of the GREATER model in simulating sulfamethoxazole (SMX) concentrations in the surface waters of the arid high-altitude Katari catchment (Bolivian Altiplano), assessing the sensitivity of the parameters considered, and evaluating the ecotoxicological risk posed. The model predicted the general spatial pattern of SMX concentrations. No contaminant abatement was observed during the wet season, supporting the idea that non-point sources, such as runoff and remobilization processes, play an important role during that season. During the dry season, the abatement capacity was 91%, suggesting that natural attenuation, particularly photodegradation, is high during low flow. Pharmaceutical consumption was the parameter that influenced the environmental concentrations the most. The ratio of Predicted Environmental Concentrations to predicted no-effect concentrations varied between 0.14 and 26.6 for the wet season and between 0.14 and 7.6 for the dry season depending on the river stretch.
Sulfamethoxazole biodegradation and impacts on soil microbial communities in a Bolivian arid high altitude catchment
Chemosphere, 2021
The processes controlling antibiotics fate in ecosystems are poorly understood, yet their presenc... more The processes controlling antibiotics fate in ecosystems are poorly understood, yet their presence can inhibit bacterial growth and induce the development of bacterial resistance. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is one of the most frequently detected sulfonamides in natural environments due to its low metabolism and molecular properties. This work presents pioneering results on SMX biodegradation and impact in high altitude soils (Bolivian Altiplano), allowing a better understanding of the persistence, spread and impact of this antibiotic at the global watershed scale. Our results showed significant dissipation of SMX in relation to its adsorption, hydrolysis and biotransformation. However, biodegradation appears to be lower in these mountain soils than in lowland soils as widely described in the literature. The half-life of SMX ranges from 12 to 346 days in non-sterile soils. In one soil, no biotic degradation was observed, indicating a likely high persistence. Biodegradation was related to OC content and to proximity to urban activities. Regarding the study of the impacts of SMX, the DGGE results were less sensitive than the sequencing. In general, SMX strongly changes the structure and composition of the studied soils at high altitudes, which is comparable to the observations of other authors in lowland soils. The phylum Actinobacter showed high sensitivity to SMX. In contrast, the abundance of ɣ-proteobacteria remained almost unchanged. Soil contamination with SMX did not lead to the development of the studied resistance genes (sul1 and sul2) in soils where they were absent at the beginning of the experiment. Thus, the presence of SMX resistance genes seems to be related to irrigation with wastewater carrying the studied resistance genes.
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2016
Cities in developing countries encounter rapid waves of social transformation and economic develo... more Cities in developing countries encounter rapid waves of social transformation and economic development where the environment is mostly a neglected aspect. The Katari watershed encompasses mining areas, El Alto city (one of the fastest growing urban areas in South America and the biggest in the Altiplano) as well as agricultural areas. Its outlet is Cohana Bay, one of the most polluted areas of Lake Titicaca. Here we propose an integrative approach (hydrological, physicochemical, chemical and bacterial data) to understand the pollution problem of this developing area, in which a variety of anthropogenic activities takes place. Both mining and urban areas appear to be sources of metal pollution. Nutrient and bacterial contaminations are mainly related to urban and industrial discharges. These situations have impacts in the basin from the mining area down to Cohana Bay of Lake Titicaca. Pollutant concentration patterns are highly influenced by seasonal hydrology variations. The poor quality of surface waters in the basin represents a risk for human and animal populations, as well as for the quality of aquifers located underneath El Alto city.
Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2020
Purpose Soils have the ability to retain potentially toxic elements (PTEs) through different chem... more Purpose Soils have the ability to retain potentially toxic elements (PTEs) through different chemical processes that promote low mobility of these elements, such as the precipitation of secondary phases of Fe, which facilitate the adsorption/co-precipitation of PTEs. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the mobility of PTEs present in an acid solution in two soils with different concentrations of calcite, understanding the role of secondary iron phases in the retention of these elements. Materials and methods To evaluate this phenomenon, intact soil columns of two different types of soils from the Sonora River in Northwest Mexico were exposed to an acid solution with high concentration of dissolved PTEs (mainly Fe, Al, and Cu). Results and discussion The Tinajas soil was free of carbonates while the Bacanuchi soil had more carbonate content than the Tinajas soil. Secondary precipitates corresponding to secondary phases of iron (mainly ferrihydrite and jarosite) were identified by X-ray diffraction. Using scanning electron microscopy, the PTEs retained in the soils were identified. The presence of calcite favored the neutral pH values in the collected leachates in the Bacanuchi soil; consequently, the mobility of the PTEs present in the acid solution was nullified. Furthermore, this process facilitated the retention of the toxic elements in the Bacanuchi soil. Conclusions The retention of PTEs was 100% in the Bacanuchi soil where the natural acid-neutralizing capacity in this soil was associated with calcite. The formation of secondary phases of Fe, among them ferrihydrite, jarosite, and schwertmannite, mainly in Bacanuchi soil, promoted the retention of Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Pb (elements analyzed in this work). Results of this work can provide key insights to improve cleanup and conservation strategies in mining sites.
Antibiotic Pollution and Occurrence of Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Latin American Developing Countries
Antimicrobial Resistance in Wastewater Treatment Processes, 2017
International audienc
Groundwater metal pollution is a major concern for societies, especially in areas where the minin... more Groundwater metal pollution is a major concern for societies, especially in areas where the mining industry is important. Index-based techniques, as the DRASTIC index, are often used to assess the intrinsic groundwater vulnerability and could be modified to evaluate the aquifer vulnerability to specific contaminants. Mines, mining wastes and related features are detectable with remote sensing techniques. In this work we evaluate the vulnerability of the Rio Sonora Aquifer to metallic pollution by the traditional DRASTIC method and by the addition of a land use (Lu) parameter in which possible sources of metals (detected by remote sensing) were considered (DRASTIC+Lu). The methodology allowed us to locate possible sources of metallic contamination. The Sonora River channel showed the higher vulnerability in both calculated vulnerability indices (DRASTIC and DRASTIC+Lu). Generally, the addition of the land use parameter caused a decrease in vulnerability but also a local increase wher...
Antibiotic pollution on the Katari watershed : Evaluation of the fate and pollution risk in the context of the Bolivian Altiplano
L’Altiplano Nord bolivien est soumis naturellement à des conditions climatiques et pédologiques c... more L’Altiplano Nord bolivien est soumis naturellement à des conditions climatiques et pédologiques contraignantes. Il est particulièrement impacté par des activités humaines variées tels que l’exploitation minière, l’agriculture et plus récemment l’urbanisation. Le bassin versant (BV) du Katari englobe une variété d’activités anthropiques et englobe la plus grande ville de l’Altiplano (El Alto). Cette ville s’est développée avec un aménagement territorial minimal et une réglementation insuffisante. A ce jour, peu d’études ont caractérisé les résidus pharmaceutiques et leur devenir dans les conditions extrêmes comme celles de l’Altiplano. Les antibiotiques sont des micropolluants organiques et comptent aujourd’hui comme un des groupes les plus importants parmi les polluants émergents. Tout d’abord une évaluation de l’état général de la pollution du BV a été réalisée. Les résultats ont mis en évidence que la ville d’El Alto est la principale source de pollution en nutriments (en particul...
Antibiotic Pollution and Occurrence of Bacterial Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Latin American Developing Countries
International audienc
Water resources affected by potentially toxic elements in an area under current and historical mining in northwestern Mexico
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2021
Rio Sonora watershed and its aquifer-located in northwest Mexico-have been influenced by mining o... more Rio Sonora watershed and its aquifer-located in northwest Mexico-have been influenced by mining operations for 140 years, possibly causing emissions of potentially toxic elements (PTE) and affecting health of exposed populations. On the basis of available data from governmental surveys (2014–2017) and recent sampling (2018), this study constructed reliable PTE total concentration database that allowed us to report temporal/spatial variations in surface and groundwater and their associated health risks to the population living in the central part of the Rio Sonora basin. The data clearly showed that a mining spill that took place in 2014 has had an adverse impact on total PTE concentrations in surface water. They also indicated the presence of different PTE point source locations that have continued to cause contamination of surface water at levels of health concern. Data also suggested slight impacts of the spill event on groundwater possibly related to soil neutralizing potential. Two metal groups were detected for surface waters (Pb–Cd–As–Ni–Cr and of Zn–Al–Cr) and groundwaters (Cr–As–Cu–Cd and Zn–Al), which suggest that they have different sources or are being released by different processes. The potential health impacts of PTE concentrations were associated with specific age groups, dates, and areas. The results indicate that in this complex semi-arid rural system, current and historical mining activities, as well as contrasting hydrological conditions, have impacted surface and groundwater quality with important ecological and human health risks.
Environment International, 2019
Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is one of the antibiotics most commonly detected in aquatic and terrestria... more Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is one of the antibiotics most commonly detected in aquatic and terrestrial environments and is still widely used, especially in low income countries. SMX is assumed to be highly mobile in soils due to its intrinsic molecular properties. Ten soils with contrasting properties and representative of the catchment soil types and land uses were collected throughout the watershed, which undergoes very rapid urban development. SMX displacement experiments were carried out in repacked columns of the 10 soils to explore SMX reactive transfer (mobility and reactivity) in order to assess the contamination risk of water resources in the context of the Bolivian Altiplano. Relevant sorption processes were identified by modelling (HYDRUS-1D) considering different sorption concepts. SMX mobility was best simulated when considering irreversible sorption as well as instantaneous and rate-limited reversible sorption, depending on the soil type. SMX mobility appeared lower in soils located upstream of the watershed (organic and acidic soils-Regosol) in relation with a higher adsorption capacity compared to the soils located downstream (lower organic carbon content-Cambisol). By combining soil column experiments and soil profiles description, this study suggests that SMX can be classified as a moderately to highly mobile compound in the studied watershed, depending principally on soil properties such as pH and OC. Potential risks of surface and groundwater pollution by SMX were thus identified in the lower part of the studied catchment, threatening Lake Titicaca water quality.
Aquatic Sciences, 2016
Global climate change and local watershed management as potential drivers of salinity variation i... more Global climate change and local watershed management as potential drivers of salinity variation in a tropical coastal lagoon (Laguna de Terminos, Mexico).
Revista mexicana de ciencias geológicas, Dec 1, 2022
Groundwater metal pollution is a major concern in mining areas. This study proposes a new additio... more Groundwater metal pollution is a major concern in mining areas. This study proposes a new addition to the DRASTIC method (DRASTIC+Lu) to assess groundwater vulnerability to metal pollution in mining areas by combining remote sensing (to locate metal pollution sources) and the DRASTIC index. The study was performed in a mining area in northwestern Mexico showing current and historical mining activities. The proposed methodology allowed locating known and unknown sources of metal pollution (mining tailings, active/inactive mines, and areas with exposed natural geochemical anomalies). Generally, the addition of the land use (Lu) parameter causes not only a decrease in vulnerability but also highlights very high vulnerable areas and identifies new ones in the vicinity of metal pollution sources. This result is relevant to focus stewardship efforts in very high vulnerable areas. Results allowed to identify the need to implement protection and restauration measures in the Sonora river channel and its vicinity. The proposed method could be implemented in other mining areas around the world-at a low cost-to locate unknown metal pollution sources and clearly identify very high vulnerable areas that play a key role in the protection of groundwater resources.
L’Altiplano Nord bolivien est soumis naturellement a des conditions climatiques et pedologiques c... more L’Altiplano Nord bolivien est soumis naturellement a des conditions climatiques et pedologiques contraignantes. Il est particulierement impacte par des activites humaines variees tels que l’exploitation miniere, l’agriculture et plus recemment l’urbanisation. Le bassin versant (BV) du Katari englobe une variete d’activites anthropiques et englobe la plus grande ville de l’Altiplano (El Alto). Cette ville s’est developpee avec un amenagement territorial minimal et une reglementation insuffisante. A ce jour, peu d’etudes ont caracterise les residus pharmaceutiques et leur devenir dans les conditions extremes comme celles de l’Altiplano. Les antibiotiques sont des micropolluants organiques et comptent aujourd’hui comme un des groupes les plus importants parmi les polluants emergents. Tout d’abord une evaluation de l’etat general de la pollution du BV a ete realisee. Les resultats ont mis en evidence que la ville d’El Alto est la principale source de pollution en nutriments (en particul...
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020
Generation, storage, and management of waste coming from industrial processes are a growing world... more Generation, storage, and management of waste coming from industrial processes are a growing worldwide problem. One of the main contributors is the mining industry, in particular tailings generated by historical mining, which are barely maintained, especially in developing countries. Assessing the impact of a mining site to surrounding soils and ecosystems can be complex, especially when determining mobility and accessibility of the contaminants is required to perform ecological and human health risk assessment. As an effort to obtain information regarding mobility and accessibility of some potentially toxic elements (Zn, Pb, and As) from an historical mining site of northwestern Mexico, the abandoned mine tailings of San Felipe de Jesús in central Sonora and adjacent agricultural soils were investigated. Mobility and accessibility were assessed by means of sequential extraction procedures and using simulated physiological media. Additionally, an assessment of accidental oral intake was calculated considering the bioaccessible fractions. Results show that higher concentrations of contaminants were found in sulfide-rich tailings (Zn = 92,540; Pb = 21,288; As = 19,740 mg kg −1) compared with oxide-rich tailings (Zn = 43,240; Pb = 14,763; As = 13,401 mg kg −1). Concentrations in agricultural soils were on average Zn = 4755, Pb = 2840, and As = 103 mg kg −1. Zinc was mainly recovered from labile fractions in oxide-rich tailings (~60%) and in a lower amount from sulfide-rich tailings (~30%). Pb and As were mainly associated with residual fractions (80-95%) in both types of tailings. The percentage of mobile fractions (sum of water-soluble, exchangeable, and bound to carbonate fractions) in agricultural soils was as follows: Zn~60%, Pb~15%, and As~70%. Regarding the phytoaccessible fraction, the studied elements in mine tailings and agricultural soil samples exceeded the threshold limits, except for As in agricultural soils. According to data obtained, toxic effects were also calculated. As for daily oral intake for non-carcinogenic effects in adults and children, only Pb and As exceeded reference dose values, especially in children exposed to sulfide-rich tailings and agricultural soils. Regarding carcinogenic effects of Pb and As, most of the samples were above acceptable risk values.
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Papers by Denisse ARCHUNDIA Peralta