Evaluation of Surface Sediment Quality in Rivers with Fish Farming Potential (Peru) Using Indicators of Contamination, Accumulation and Ecological Risk of Heavy Metals and Arsenic

Surface sediment quality of potential rivers in Peru was evaluated using indicators of contamination, accumulation and ecological risk of heavy metals and As. Surface sediment samples were collected at 54 sampling sites in the Tishgo and Chia rivers during 2018. The determination of Cu, Pb, Zn and As was performed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results revealed the decreasing order of the mean concentrations of heavy metals and As in the Chia River of Zn > Cu > As > Pb and Tishgo of Zn > Pb > As > Cu. The PLI for the Tishgo River were greater than one (PLI > 1) denoting the deterioration it has been experiencing. In the Chia River, 60% of the sampling sites indicated no appreciable contamination by these elements (PLI < 1). The Igeo values of As in both rivers showed a state of contamination, from moderately to severely contaminated. In the Tishgo River the potential ecological risk varied from low to moderate and in the Chia River from low to considerable. Finally, this study reveals the applicability of the evaluation indexes of contamination, accumulation and potential ecological risk of toxic metals so that special control measures can be adopted.