Lead, a highly toxic metal, can accumulate in the body through food intake, especially cereals and grains. Soybean, being a cereal, is characterized by its notable capacity for resistance to toxic metals, which makes it less susceptible to chemical and biological decomposition processes. The objective of this research is to quantify the concentrations of lead in soybeans and the toxicological risk to which the inhabitants of the Quevedo canton are exposed. To achieve this, random grain samples were collected monthly in triplicate (n=3) from four markets, along with a control sample. Subsequently, they were analyzed independently. The samples were weighed, calcined at 600°C for two hours, cooled and digested with concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acid. The digestates were diluted to 10 ml with 3% nitric acid and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The toxicological risk evalua...

Environmental management is essential to minimize the negative impacts of industrial activities, especially in small companies. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate environmental aspects in washing and lubricating machine companies, aligning them with ISO 14001:2015, to optimize resources, manage waste and mitigate impacts. The research was conducted in three companies in San Cristobal Parish, Canton Quevedo, Ecuador, using the CONESA method to identify environmental aspects and a validated questionnaire with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.82 to measure perceptions. Statistical analysis included heat maps, correlations and k-means clustering, complemented with Principal Component Analysis. The results indicated that Campoverde leads in regulatory compliance, although all companies have deficiencies in Support and Operation. The severe impacts identified were water consumptio...

The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical risks to which personnel working in the production and industrial processes of the timber sector are exposed. Two critical areas of human resource performance were identified in the industries for the hygienic evaluation. In these areas, corresponding to planning and sawing, machines and tools that are in constant operation, covering the entire workday. The research methods considered were observation, field, quantitative, interviews, and methodologies available from the National Institute of Safety and Hygiene at Work of Spain, complemented by technical noise guides calculating the equivalent daily exposure level, uncertainty, and attenuation. Lighting was analyzed by taking measurements at eight key points taking into account the legal values according to the industrial sector, and vibrations by calculating acceleration and da...

The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical risks to which personnel working in the production and industrial processes of the timber sector are exposed. Two critical areas of human resource performance were identified in the industries for the hygienic evaluation. In these areas, corresponding to planning and sawing, machines and tools that are in constant operation, covering the entire workday. The research methods considered were observation, field, quantitative, interviews, and methodologies available from the National Institute of Safety and Hygiene at Work of Spain, complemented by technical noise guides calculating the equivalent daily exposure level, uncertainty, and attenuation. Lighting was analyzed by taking measurements at eight key points taking into account the legal values according to the industrial sector, and vibrations by calculating acceleration and da...

Lead, a highly toxic metal, can accumulate in the body through food intake, especially cereals and grains. Soybean, being a cereal, is characterized by its notable capacity for resistance to toxic metals, which makes it less susceptible to chemical and biological decomposition processes. The objective of this research is to quantify the concentrations of lead in soybeans and the toxicological risk to which the inhabitants of the Quevedo canton are exposed. To achieve this, random grain samples were collected monthly in triplicate (n=3) from four markets, along with a control sample. Subsequently, they were analyzed independently. The samples were weighed, calcined at 600°C for two hours, cooled and digested with concentrated nitric and hydrochloric acid. The digestates were diluted to 10 ml with 3% nitric acid and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The toxicological risk evalua...