Wastewater continuously affects lacustrine ecosystems, such is the case of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. To assess this impact, the concentration of heavy metals in water and sediment samples, physicochemical parameters, and the diversity of phytoplankton were evaluated in locations near the wastewater effluent. With the data on heavy metals in sediments, the Individual Potential Risk Factor Index (Eri) was assessed and the analysis of Potential Ecological Risk was conducted (PERI). The results revealed that pH, BOD5, NAMO and Phosphorus exceeded the limits established by Peruvian law. Additionally, we identified 14 metal elements in surface water samples; with a positive correlation between these metals and the sampling point (4), as well as total suspended solids (TSS). In the sediment samples, 35 different metal elements were detected. Specifically, point 4 s...

Wastewater continuously affects lacustrine ecosystems, such is the case of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. To assess this impact, the concentration of heavy metals in water and sediment samples, physicochemical parameters, and the diversity of phytoplankton were evaluated in locations near the wastewater effluent. With the data on heavy metals in sediments, the Individual Potential Risk Factor Index (Eri) was assessed and the analysis of Potential Ecological Risk was conducted (PERI). The results revealed that pH, BOD5, NAMO and Phosphorus exceeded the limits established by Peruvian law. Additionally, we identified 14 metal elements in surface water samples; with a positive correlation between these metals and the sampling point (4), as well as total suspended solids (TSS). In the sediment samples, 35 different metal elements were detected. Specifically, point 4 s...

Shepherds intentionally burn certain high Andean grasslands to stimulate the regrowth of grass. Nevertheless, this practice results in the generation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), which contaminate and can leach into the soil and be absorbed by plants. Ultimately, this adversely affects the livestock graze on these contaminated plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of 15 PAHs at the surface, 10, 20, and 30 cm depth, immediately and three months after burning natural grasses in Somoa, Carumas-Peru, during the year 2021. UHPLC-FLD determined PAHs, and the QuEChERS method was used to extract the PAHs from soil samples. Twelve of the 15 PAHs listed by the USEPA were found. The highest concentration was found at the surface, followed by the 10, 20, and 30 cm (759,63, 157,99, 85,86, and 68,04 ng g−1, respectively). On the other hand, Acenaphthene pres...

The ecosystem services provided by Lake Titicaca in the Interior Bay of Puno (BIP) are overused to stimulate local economic development without taking into account the environmental impacts produced. The objective of the research was to estimate the willingness to pay of foreign tourists visiting the BIP for the implementation of improvement alternatives on biodiversity, ecotourism boardwalk and decontamination of the bay. Semi-structured surveys were applied to national and foreign tourists (n=400) who visited the BIP during October 2019. Respondents chose their preferences regarding the implementation of ecosystem improvements and their willingness to pay for their implementation, through experiments. of choice and the use of mixed logit models. The attribute “biodiversity” is the most valued. The total WTP for the improvements in the three attributes is S/51.12/tourist, which woul...

The ecosystem services provided by Lake Titicaca in the Interior Bay of Puno (BIP) are overused to stimulate local economic development without taking into account the environmental impacts produced. The objective of the research was to estimate the willingness to pay of foreign tourists visiting the BIP for the implementation of improvement alternatives on biodiversity, ecotourism boardwalk and decontamination of the bay. Semi-structured surveys were applied to national and foreign tourists (n=400) who visited the BIP during October 2019. Respondents chose their preferences regarding the implementation of ecosystem improvements and their willingness to pay for their implementation, through experiments. of choice and the use of mixed logit models. The attribute “biodiversity” is the most valued. The total WTP for the improvements in the three attributes is S/51.12/tourist, which woul...