CONCENTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN ASH EMITTED BY THE SUGAR FACTORY LA GLORIA, VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

Agricultural activities are one of the main sources of environmental pollution. One such source is sugarcane burning and the related agroindustrial processes carried out by sugar mills that emit a great volume of particulate matter containing heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). These heavy metals result in serious pollution problems and harm to public health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the concentrations and spatial distribution of the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn present in the particulate matter emitted by La Gloria sugar mill and by sugarcane burning in regional agroecosystems, as a function of the distance at which such material was deposited during the emission process. The research was carried out in the town of La Gloria, Veracruz where the sugar mill is located. Two study areas were established: the first, zone A, was located 50 to 400 m away from the mill, and the second, zone B, 401 to 900 m away. A total of 51 ash sampling sites were randomly selected, 17 in zone A and 34 in zone B. The samples collected within the town were representative of the area with the highest incidence of particulate matter. An analysis of means showed that the concentrations of Cd, Cu and Pb were higher in zone A than in zone B (100.6179 > 66.3614 µg/g; 92.2825 > 47.2526 µg/g; 876 8559 > 701.3888 µg/g, espectively). However, in zone B the concentration of Zn was higher than in A (28.5941 > 28.8798 µg/g). As regards to distance, no significant statistical difference between zones was found.