Fertilizantes como fuente de contaminación por Cd en suelos cultivados y arroz en la provincia de Guayas- Ecuador

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that contaminates rice, and fertilizers represent a significant
source of this contamination. This study focused on detecting the presence of Cd in fertilizers,
soils, and Oryza sativa plants in the cantons of Daule and Nobol in the province of Guayas, Ecuador.
Nine samples of inorganic fertilizers were analyzed, and triplicate samples of soils and plants
were collected at 12 stations. Using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, the maximum
concentration of Cd in the fertilizers was determined to be 41.30 ± 1.65 mg/kg, over 41 times the
recommended limit. In the soil, the maximum concentration was 2.59 ± 0.31 mg/kg while, in the
roots, leaves, and grains, the maximum concentrations were 0.50 ± 0.07, 0.44 ± 0.08, and 0.19 ±
0.050 mg/kg, respectively. The results indicate that, in Nobol, the concentration of Cd in the soil
was over five times the limit allowed by Ecuadorian regulations, although the levels in the rice
remained within the limits set by the European Union. This study indicates that fertilizers are a
source of Cd contamination in these areas, with Nobol being the most affected canton.