Evaluation of the Concentration and Health Risks of Phosphates and Nitrates of a High Andean River
			
	
 
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				1
				Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Huancavelica, Avenida Agricultura 319-321, Paturpampa 09001, Peru
				 
			 
						
				2
				Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Av. Óscar R. Benavides 5737, Lima 07006, Peru
				 
			 
						
				3
				College of Agricultural Engineering, , Water Resources Department Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru
				 
			 
										
				
				
		
		 
			
			
		
		
		
		
		
		
	
							
										    		
    			 
    			
    				    					Corresponding author
    					    				    				
    					Eliana  Contreras-López   
    					Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Lima, Peru
    				
 
    			
				 
    			 
    		 		
			
																																					 
		
	 
		
 
 
Ecol. Eng. Environ. Technol. 2023; 9:249-258
		
 
 
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ABSTRACT
In developing countries, river monitoring is very limited. Despite environmental and health problems, there is a paucity of information regarding the contaminants phosphates and nitrates. Thus, concentration and health risks, of phosphates and nitrates of the Ichu river waters, in Huancavelica, Peru, were evaluated. Sampling was carried out at six different points. Important water quality parameters were analyzed, such as pH, Temperature, Dissolved oxygen (DO) and electric conductivity (EC). The results revealed that the phosphate and nitrate varied between 0.475 to 0.575 mg/L and 11.10 to 14.00 mg/L, respectively. The concentration of phosphates and nitrates was 0.520±0.02 mg/L and 13.10±0.48, respectively. The Ichu River water had the quality that corresponded to its category, when compared to the permitted limits of the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) for water. It did not present contamination according to the nutrient contamination index and the health risk was from chronic low intake. Besides, it presented a moderate relationship between nitrate and phosphate, due to the low concentration of phosphates during the dry season. What is new about this research is the approach to potential health risks of exposure to nitrates and phosphates, in a high Andean river in Huancavelica, Peru.