Andean Region Of Ecuador Research Articles

Superficial Dermatomycosis in Primary Care in the Ecuadorian Andean Region: Clinical Presentation and Therapeutic Approaches

Dermatomycosis encompasses a spectrum of fungal infections caused by filamentous fungi, predominantly dermatophytes, affecting humans and animals. This article presents various cases of dermatomycosis along with their respective treatments.

The Implementation of IoT Sensors in Fog Collector Towers and Flowmeters for the Control of Water Collection and Distribution

This study describes the implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in flow meters installed in drinking water systems and in fog catchers built in low-income, high-altitude communities in the Andes region of Ecuador, taking studies at the University de las Fuerzas Armadas ESPE as our reference. The influence and management of these intelligent sensors are analyzed, as well as a basic review of the materials and methods used in their implementation. The importance of validating the accuracy and reliability of IoT sensors compared to professional devices is highlighted, especially in mountain areas with difficult access. Additionally, the cost–benefit of using IoT sensors in fog catchers and drinking water distribution networks is mentioned, which depends on several factors such as the scale of the project, the objectives to be achieved concerning monitoring, and the available resources. Finally, it is highlighted that using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors in construction and water collection systems has proven beneficial in detecting possible effects on its operation and determining consumption and supply flows for a given population.

Phenotypic Diversity of Quinoa Landraces Cultivated in the Ecuadorian Andean Region: In Situ Conservation and Detection of Promising Accessions for Breeding Programs

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is an ancestral crop in the Ecuadorian Andean region, and its landraces have always been of great social and food importance for the native population. Currently, there is no updated information about their phenotypic diversity and conservation status nor about the changes that have occurred in the last decades. A total of 268 accessions of quinoa landraces collected at two different times (1978–1988 and 2014–2015) in three representative Ecuadorian Andean provinces (Imbabura, Cotopaxi and Chimborazo) were evaluated for forty agro-morphological (17 quantitative and 23 qualitative) traits. Most of the quantitative traits showed high variability, some of them with great importance for commercialization and germplasm selection for breeding programs (e.g., panicle width, grain width, 1000-grain weight or seed yield per plant). Ten quantitative and eleven qualitative descriptors were significantly different between both collections. Regarding the presence/absence of saponin, all the accessions collected four decades ago had saponin, while it was found in only 18% of accessions collected more recently. The phenotypic relationships in the dendrogram did not show clustered accessions by their geographical origin or by collection. A selection index allowed us to detect a few accessions recently collected in Chimborazo with high promises for future breeding programs, with high seed yields per plant values and a reduced or no saponin content. The agro-morphological information obtained may be very useful for the suitable management and conservation of this ancestral plant genetic resource, both on the farm by indigenous farming communities and ex situ by the Germplasm Bank of the Ecuadorian National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIAP).

Stakeholders’ Perceptions About a Destination Management Organization (DMO): A Case Study in Chimborazo, Ecuador

A Destination Management Organization (DMO) is an entity destined to make operative, administrative, organizational, and strategic decisions to maintain a coordinated management of the process associated with the design, marketing, and commercialization of the destination. This study aimed to identify the stakeholders’ perceptions about the Chimborazo DMO, located in the Andean region of Ecuador. Therefore, three focal groups of stakeholders were selected (local residents, tourists, and business owners) and a questionnaire was applied using a 5-point Likert scale. A Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to determine the reliability of the data obtained and a Chi-square contingency analysis was performed between the stakeholder groups to identify if the perception about the role and effectiveness of the Chimborazo DMO differs in dependence of the stakeholder group. Our results evidence that the stakeholders considered in this study have a positive opinion about the role of the DMO in the development, being the main common aspect identified: the need for an adequate promotion of the Chimborazo province. The information generated here could be useful to generate policies that benefit the Chimborazo tourism sector and serve as the basis for further work dealing with the stakeholder’s identification and the assessment of the DMO influence in the territory development. 
 
 Received: 26 May 2023 / Accepted: 28 December 2023 / Published: 5 January 2024

Evaluación Tecno-económica de alternativas para calentamiento doméstico de agua para la ciudad ecuatoriana de Cuenca

INTRODUCTION. Homes in the Andean region of Ecuador, due to the relatively cold ambient temperature, require energy services such as hot water in a daily basis along the year. In that context, the preferred technologies used for such purpose run on LPG, mainly, due to its low cost as it is highly subsidized. This situation poses certain challenges for the energy policy of the country. OBJECTIVE. This case study aims to discuss more sustainable alternatives to obtain hot water for household use in the context of the Andean city of Cuenca. METHOD. Firstly, solar and meteorological data has been processed to characterize local conditions. Then, different technologies able to provide hot water have been simulated. Further, an economic analysis was performed to determine costs per unit of energy required. RESULTS. The use of subsidized LPG reduces the real cost of water heating between 47% and 72% depending on the daily levels of consumption. In the event of a subsidy removal, electric tankless water heaters, along with reduced electricity tariffs, become competitive for levels of consumption up to 120 liters per day. For higher levels of consumption solar thermal systems or heat pumps may become viable only when providing rebates DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The presence of benefits of scale among levels of consumption need to be regarded when designing incentives for energy services such as domestic hot water.

Triclabendazole efficacy, prevalence, and re-infection of Fasciola hepatica in bovine and ovine naturally infected in the Andes of Ecuador

Fasciola spp., infections are distributed worldwide including the Andes region of Ecuador, affecting cattle, sheep, porcine, humans, and other herbivores. Triclabendazole (TCBZ) is commonly used to treat animal infections. However, prospective studies on TCBZ efficacy and fascioliosis prevalence have not been studied in the highlands of Ecuador. This study was performed in a rural community at central of the Ecuadorian Andes in freely roaming bovine and ovine aimed to 1) evaluate the efficacy of TCBZ by administering a single oral dose of 12 mg/kg body weight, 2) assess the prevalence of F. hepatica infection and 3) to monitor re-infections for a follow-up period of five months. In total, 122, 86, 111, 110, 89, and 90 and 49, 34, 47, 28, 27, and 31 stool samples were collected each month from bovines and ovine, respectively. Besides, 32 stool samples from porcine were also collected at the beginning of the study. Stools were microscopically analyzed by formalin-ether concentration method to detect F. hepatica ova. The prevalence of F. hepatica infections before treatment was 55,7% and 63,3% for bovine and ovine, respectively. The infection prevalence was of 22% in porcine. The efficacity of triclabendazole was 83% and 97% in bovines and ovine, respectively, at 30 days post-treatment. The re-infection reaches to 54,4% in bovines and 61,3% in ovine after five months. TCBZ had a high efficacy and could be used for bovines and ovine Fasciola infections in the study region; however, re-infections reach the initial prevalence after five months. Therefore, we recommend integrated control strategies, including chemotherapy with a single oral dose of TCBZ, vector control, and future drug resistance studies.

Thermal Comfort in Two Housing Typologies in the Andean Region of Ecuador: Cotopaxi Province

In Ecuador, rural housing in the Andean region has limitations in its implementation and construction, which lacks technical criteria. This is due to scarce research considering the geographical and climatic conditions and the characteristics of construction materials suitable for this type of housing. This study analyzes the thermal comfort of two cases of study located in the Province of Cotopaxi, Ecuador. This location's altitude exceeds 2,900 MASL, and the average temperature ranges between 12°C and -3°C. The selected samples are two predominant single-family housing typologies in the region: the first, with a traditional construction system and the second, with a conventional system. This study has three main parts: in-situ data collection with measurement equipment, user interviews, and software simulations to obtain thermal data. The first phase, data collection and interviews, facilitate the analysis of discomfort hours and operating temperature (OT) of the current state of the housing. These first results allowed the second phase of this study, which is simulation. In this part, modifications of materiality and carpentry were proposed. The results show significant improvements in thermal comfort. Housing 1 increases by 14% of OT, and Housing 2 increases by 23% of O. T. Both study cases show a significant reduction in the discomfort hours. This research's main conclusion is that adequate material management through software simulation can contribute to innovative solutions for thermal comfort. The outgoing results of this study can be used in future housing and interventions in the region.

Taxonomic and Feeding Trait-Based Analysis of Macroinvertebrates in the Antisana River Basin (Ecuadorian Andean Region).

High-elevation tropical streams are under increasing threat from human activities and climate change. Specifically, Ecuadorian Andean streams require priority actions such as bioassessment (e.g., biodiversity and functional ecology of macroinvertebrates) in order to generate adequate environmental management policies. Therefore, we investigated the distribution and composition of the macroinvertebrate taxa and their functional feeding groups in relation to the environmental variables in the Antisana river basin (Andean-Ecuadorian Region). We sampled macroinvertebrates from 15 locations to assess ecological conditions (ECs), expressed as the Biological Monitoring Working Party Colombia (BMWP-Col) classes, the Andean Biotic Index (ABI) and the Andean-Amazon Biotic Index (AAMBI). Results indicate that dissolved oxygen saturation, elevation, nutrient concentration and conductivity contributed significantly to the composition of the taxa and functional feeding groups (FFGs). Taxa diversity and FFGs were more abundant in the best EC sites. Shredders (SH) were, overall, dominant and abundant at sites with medium-high ECs. Scrapers constituted the second most prevalent assemblage, exerting dominance at moderate ecological conditions (high altitude and high oxygen saturation). Collector-gathers (CGs) are less sensitive to contamination than the previous two groups but were equally abundant at medium-high EC sites. Collector-filterers (CFs) and parasites (PAs) were less abundant, although the presence of the former was slightly related to better environmental conditions. Predators (PRs) were almost absent throughout the study, but they were collected from poor EC sites. CGs, PAs and PRs showed more tolerance to the presence of human disturbances (e.g., hydraulic constructions or slope erosion). The BMWP-Col index seems to be the best fit for this ecosystem, showing a significant difference in FFG between the index classes, compared to the other indices evaluated. The results of this investigation may be regarded as a fundamental starting point and used in future bioassessment work in other similar ecosystems, particularly high-altitude tropical Ecuadorian streams.

Human health risk assessment due to mercury use in gold mining areas in the Ecuadorian Andean region

Mining activity drives economic development and has established itself as one of the main industrial spheres globally. However, illegal, and artisanal gold mining, which uses mercury (Hg), is a major source of global pollution. Hg is highly toxic and persistent in the environment, affecting human health and the ecosystem. The objective of this research is to; (a) analyze Hg concentrations in surface waters of nine provinces of the Andean region of Ecuador and compare them with the maximum permissible limits of Ecuadorian regulations, and (b) evaluate the health risk of people exposed to waters with high Hg content through residential and recreational scenarios. In this study, 147 water samples from rivers and streams were analyzed. The results revealed worrying levels of Hg, especially in the provinces of Azuay and Loja where Hg values of up to 0.0913 mg/L and 0.0387 mg/L, respectively, were detected. In addition, it was found that 45% of the samples did not meet the water quality criteria for the preservation of aquatic life, which represents a severe risk to the ecosystem. The probabilistic risk analysis yielded values that exceeded the acceptable exposure limit for adults and children in residential settings in Azuay and Loja, while in the recreational scenario the safe exposure limit was exceeded for both receptors only in the province of Azuay. The elevated presence of Hg in the provinces, mainly in Azuay and Loja, possibly related to illegal gold mining activity, represents a threat to water quality and aquatic life in the Andean region of Ecuador. Children are especially vulnerable, and effective regulation is required to ensure the safety of the population. This study provides valuable information for decision makers regarding the risk associated with Hg exposure in areas of mining activity in the Ecuadorian Andean region. In addition, it can contribute to the development of policies and strategies to control contamination in mining environments and protect human and environmental health in the region.

Sustainability strategies focused on thermal comfort and embodied energy of emerging housing in the Andean Region of Ecuador

Faced with the constant natural disasters in the Andean regions of Ecuador, several housing solutions have been proposed. However, these do not consider the user’s thermal comfort or the environmental impact they generate. This research addresses this issue from a bioclimatic perspective through an emerging housing model in an Andean climate, oriented to ensuring thermal comfort and reducing the environmental impact of the construction. The analysis focuses on indoor temperature and the Total Embodied Energy (EET) of the housing model. The methodology is divided into the definition of the model and strategies, on one hand, and, on the other, the analysis of these parameters through simulations and calculations. In addition, a comparative analysis with other studies is carried out. The strategies defined were solar gain, thermal mass, compactness, local-recycled materials, and modulation. The results show that the proposed model passively reaches comfort temperatures, and that the EET (2135.38 MJ/m2) is lower than that of other social housing.

Dataset of Specific Total Embodied Energy and Specific Total Weight of 40 Buildings from the Last Four Decades in the Andean Region of Ecuador

This article presents the Specific Total Embodied Energy (STEE) and Specific Total Weight (STW) of 40 Andean residential buildings in Ecuador, from 1980 to 2020. Firstly, the BoM of ten buildings of every decade was obtained through field work carried out in three urban sectors of this city. Secondly, the specific embodied energy and specific weight of every material found in the 40 samples were obtained by bibliography. Finally, the calculation of each building was divided into three components: Structure, Envelope and Finishes. The analyzed data show a detailed collection of different materials and construction typologies used in these four decades, and the impact on their embodied energy and their weight. Moreover, this article gives a Specific Embodied Energy and Specific Weight database of 25 materials that are extensively used in Andean regions. The results show several changes in reference to the insertion of new material, but also regarding the adoption of new architectonic models. The most important changes, in the analyzed period, have been the use of concrete and metal in the structure instead of wood, the increase in the glass surface in the envelope, and the replacement of wood by particleboard on the finishes. In conclusion, the STEE of the entire building has experienced an increase of 2.19 times in the last four decades. The STW value has also increased, but to a lesser extent (1.36 times).

Assessment of Land Surface Schemes from the WRF-Chem for Atmospheric Modeling in the Andean Region of Ecuador

Surface interactions occur near the land–atmosphere interface, thus affecting the temperature, convection, boundary layer, and stability of the atmosphere. A proper representation of surface interactions is a crucial component for numerical atmospheric and air quality modeling. We assessed four land surface schemes—1. 5–layer thermal diffusion scheme (1 5-Layer); 2. unified Noah land surface model (2 Noah); 3. rapid update cycle (3 RUC) land surface model; and 4. Pleim–Xiu land surface model (4 Pleim–Xiu)—from the Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry (WRF-Chem V3.2) model for the purposes of atmospheric modeling in Cuenca, which is a region with a complex topography and land use configuration and which is located in the Southern Andean region, in Ecuador. For this purpose, we modeled the meteorological and air quality variables during September 2014. It was found that the meteorological and short-term air quality variables were better modeled through the 2 Noah scheme. Long-term (mean monthly) air quality variables were better modeled by the 1 5–Layer and 3 RUC options. On average, the 2 Noah scheme was better at modeling meteorology and air quality. In addition, we assessed the 2 Noah scheme combined with the urban canopy model (UCM) (5 Noah UCM), which was developed as an option to represent the urban effects at a subgrid-scale. Results indicated that the performance of the 5 Noah UCM scheme was not better at modeling than the 2 Noah scheme alone. Moreover, the 5 Noah UCM scheme notably decreased the modeling performance for carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter. These results complement previous assessments of other schemes, allowing us to recommend a basic configuration of parameters for atmospheric modeling in the Andean region of Ecuador.

Genetic Diversity of Black Amaranth (Amaranthus quitensis Kunth) Landraces of Ecuadorian Highlands: Association Genotypes—Color Morphotypes

Black amaranth (Amarantus quitensis Kunth) is an ancestral crop of the Ecuadorian Andean region, where traditionally it is called ataco or sangorache. Nowadays, there is some information about the phenotypic diversity of black amaranth landraces, but there are no data about their genetic diversity. In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity of 139 black amaranth accessions collected twice (1981–1986 and 2014–2015) in three representative Ecuadorian Andean provinces for this crop (Imbabura, Tungurahua, and Cañar) using nine simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers. We detected low genetic diversity levels; only a total of 36 alleles were amplified in 139 accessions, with a mean allelic richness of 4.0 per marker, observed heterozygosity of 0.014, expected heterozygosity of 0.134, and Shannon’s information index of 0.297. In addition, only 17 genotypes were found, with a predominant genotype (83.6%) and up to 12 accession-unique genotypes. Moreover, a certain genetic diversity decrease was observed over the last decades, especially in Tungurahua and Cañar, where today practically only the predominant genotype exists. The ataco germplasm is genetically structured into two well-defined genotype clusters and could constitute two different genetic lineages. Furthermore, a clear association of each genotype group with a different color morphotype defined in a previous agromorphological characterization was observed. The accessions of the majority group of genotypes showed purple pigmentation in stems, leaves, and inflorescences, whereas those of the other genotype group showed less intense pigmentation (pink stems, inflorescences, and green leaves). Molecular information obtained in this study may be useful for the suitable management and conservation of this underutilized genetic plant resource that is of great food and cultural significance for indigenous farming communities of the Ecuadorian highlands.

Phenotypic diversity of Amaranthus quitensis Kunth landraces: A millenary crop of Ecuadorian Andean region

The black amaranth (Amaranthus quitensis Kunth) is traditionally cultivated in the Ecuadorian highlands, where it has great social, cultural and food importance for the native population, and locally it is called ataco or sangorache. Currently, there are no data on the diversity and conservation status in which the ataco landraces are found. We have evaluated the phenotypic diversity of black amaranth landraces collected at two different times (1981-1986 and 2014-2015) in three representative Andean provinces for this crop (Imbabura, Tungurahua and Cañar). Thirty agro-morphological descriptors were used, 11 quantitative and 19 qualitative. Most of the quantitative traits showed high levels of variation, especially grain yield per plant. The qualitative traits showed less diversity, although the characters related to the plant pigmentation and the shape and attitude of the inflorescence were significantly discriminating between accessions from different provinces. Few significant differences were detected between both collects, so the farmers seem to be carrying out adequate on-farm conservation of the ataco germplasm. The agro-morphological information obtained in this study may be useful for enhancing the use of this plant genetic resource in future amaranth breeding programs, as well as for effectively managing the black amaranth collection from Germplasm Bank of the Ecuadorian National Institute for Agricultural Research (INIAP).

Biomass Assessment of Peach Trees in the Ecuadorian Andes

This work focused on the evaluation of four essential aspects of biomass based on peach trees grown in the Andean region of Ecuador. In one case, mathematical models have been developed allowing the amount of lignocellulosic material to be quantified from easily measurable parameters such as crown diameter, stem diameter and plant height. Performing quick surveys, these equations led to obtain the amount of biomass contained in a plot. In a second case, elemental analysis of biomass was performed in order to determine the amount of CO2 captured from the atmosphere through photosynthesis during its growth, and thus to assess the contribution of these plots in mitigating climate change. Afterwards, residual biomass from pruning was quantified and a proximal analysis was carried out. This allowed us to assess the suitability of these materials as solid biofuels. The models obtained to determine the volume of the branches gave determination coefficients of 0.98. Models to quantify the biomass of the whole plant had r2 of 70%. The density of the dried material was 0.92 g/cm3, obtaining an average dry wood weight of 44.8 kg per plant. This represents a content of 1682 moles of captured CO2 of a developed plant crop (3 years). The average ash on dry wood was 3%, fixed carbon content on dry wood was 7%, and volatile content dry wood was 78%. The moisture content of waste materials after pruning was 45.96%. The drying time in store for humidity below 10%, suitable for burning boiler, was 15 days. The higher heating value of peach wood was 18.92MJ/kg.

Soil Order-Land Use Index Using Field-Satellite Spectroradiometry in the Ecuadorian Andean Territory for Modeling Soil Quality

Land use conversion is the main cause for soil degradation, influencing the sustainability of agricultural activities in the Ecuadorian Andean region. The possibility to identify the quality based on the spectral properties allows remote sensing methods to offer an alternative form of monitoring the environment. This study used laboratory spectroscopy and multi-spectral images (Sentinel 2) with environmental covariates (physicochemical parameters) to find an affordable method that can be used to present spatial prediction models as a tool for the evaluation of the quality of Andean soils. The models were developed using statistical techniques of logistic regression and linear discriminant analysis to generate an index based on soil order and three indexes based on the combination of soil order and land use. This combined approach offers an effective method, relative to traditional laboratory methods, to derive estimates of the content and composition of soil constituents, such as electrical conductivity (CE), organic matter (OM), pH, and soil moisture (HU). For Mollisol index.3 with Páramo land use, a value of organic matter (OM) ≥8.6% was obtained, whereas for Mollisol index.4 with Shrub land use, OM was ≥6.1%. These results reveal good predictive (estimation) capabilities for these soil order–land use groups. This provides a new way to monitor soil quality using remote sensing techniques, opening promising prospects for operational applications in land use planning.

Wetland monitoring technification for the Ecuadorian Andean region based on a multi-agent framework

Remote sensing using satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has become an important tool for wetland delimitation and saturation assessment since they enable patterns identification and wetland saturation data collection in an agile and optimum way. However, their deployment and operative costs limit their implementation in harsh environments, such as the ones presented in the high Andean wetlands. In this context, this work presents a framework to monitor cost-effectively high Andean wetlands using a multi-agent approach based on: field testing, UAV orthomosaics, and satellite imagery. The method developed comprises two stages: i) definition of the monitoring agent (field testing, satellite, UAV) and ii) image processing. For these stages, semi-empirical and statistical models, which were developed in previous works are incorporated in an open-source framework to tailor each monitoring approach accordingly to the seasonality of a representative Andean wetland. The application of the method and its results highlight the suitability of using visual spectrum low-cost remote sensing approach to compute wetlands saturation percentage. In addition, the methodology proposed allowed the development of a temporal monitoring scheme, where the viability of each monitoring agent is examined. In order to validate the method, field data and multispectral imagery were employed using as case of study the Pugllohuma wetland located in the Antisana Reserve. Thus, the main contribution of this work lies in establishing a technified monitoring framework for the Ecuadorian high Andean wetlands, which can be scaled up and extrapolated to other wetlands with similar harsh environmental conditions, helping to their management and protection policies decision-making.

Healthcare professionals\u2019 experiences and perceptions regarding health care of indigenous pregnant women in Ecuador

BackgroundPregnancy is an important life experience that requires uniquely tailored approach to health care. The socio-cultural care practices of indigenous pregnant women (IPW) are passed along the maternal line with respect to identity, worldview and nature. The cultural differences between non-indigenous healthcare professionals (HPs) and IPW could present a great challenge in women’s health care. This article presents an analysis from a human rights and gender perspective of this potential cultural divide that could affect the health of the IPW in an Andean region of Ecuador with the objective of describing the health challenges of IPWs as rights holders through the experiences and perceptions of HP as guarantors of rights.MethodsWe conducted 15 in-depth interviews with HPs who care for IPW in Chimborazo, Pichincha provinces of Ecuador. We utilized a semi-structured interview guide including questions about the experiences and perceptions of HPs in delivering health care to IPW. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis in Spanish and translated for reporting.ResultsWe found disagreements and discrepancies in the Ecuadorian health service that led to the ignorance of indigenous cultural values. Common characteristics among the indigenous population such as illiteracy, low income and the age of pregnancy are important challenges for the health system. The gender approach highlights the enormous challenges: machismo, gender stereotypes and communication problems that IPWs face in accessing quality healthcare.ConclusionsUnderstanding the diverse perspectives of IPW, acknowledging their human rights particularly those related to gender, has the potential to lead to more comprehensive and respectful health care delivery in Ecuador. Further, recognizing there is a gender and power differential between the provider and the IPW can lead to improvements in the quality of health care delivery and reproductive, maternal and child health outcomes.

History, Socioeconomic Problems and Environmental Impacts of Gold Mining in the Andean Region of Ecuador.

Mining in Ecuadorian territory comprises three stages of Ecuadorian history: pre-Columbian, colonial, and republican times. In its beginnings, this activity did not have regulations or a legal foundation. The first Mining Law dates back to 1830, and it has been modified until the most recent update in 2009. The Andean region consists of 10 provinces, 9 of which have registered gold concessions, the most important of which are Loja, Azuay, and in recent years, Imbabura and Pichincha, which are the provinces with the highest number of reported concessions. The objective of this study focused on analyzing the historical and current situation of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASGM) and the emergence of large-scale (industrial) mining. For the elaboration of this study, different methodological techniques were used, such as literature review, field interviews, and expert judgment validation. The main findings show that the provinces of Loja, Azuay, Imbabura, and Pichincha are the most conflictive areas in the region due to the impacts caused by mining activities. In socio-economic terms, there are conflicts between inhabitants in favor and against these activities and problems associated with human health. In environmental terms, the findings suggest historical contamination of water sources by heavy metals, which has altered the surrounding aquatic and terrestrial systems. Finally, the study concludes that implementing public policies should be promoted to balance socio-economic and environmental aspects in gold mining activities in the Andean region of Ecuador, strengthening the use of new technologies and education to raise awareness of the serious effects of mining activities.

The evolution of embodied energy in andean residential buildings. Methodology applied to Cuenca-Ecuador

Globally, the building industry has grown in the last decades. Furthermore, the new technological advances in construction materials with high embodied energy have been widely introduced in Latin American countries' architecture. Over the last decades, the Ecuadorian Andean region has experienced these changes. To analyze the environmental impact of these construction transformations, this research quantifies the Specific Total Embodied Energy (STEE) of 40 houses built between 1980 and 2020. Additionally, this research addresses the Specific Total Weight (STW) of the study cases. The calculations of these two parameters consider three components: Structure, Envelope, and Finishes; however, these calculations disregard technical installations. This methodology was applied in Cuenca-Ecuador, where the results show that the STEE of the entire building has experienced an increase of 2.19 times in the last four decades. The component with the highest STEE and STW is the Structure, whereas the least representative is the Finishes, but it has the highest increase tendency. Despite the STEE Envelope component having had significant growth over the last decades, its STW has shown a decreasing tendency that can have thermal repercussions in interior conditions. Finally, these results can be used as architectural and construction guidelines in this region to reduce the energy impact of buildings from the design phase.