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Cemeteries are sites for the final disposal of human bodies that constitute a source of contamination of soil and water as a result of the cadaveric decomposition generated. The current research performed an initial study on the contamination of soil and water due to the influence of cemeteries and verified compliance with the legislation regulating land use and occupation of Central Ecuador (PUGS) with the aim of proposing an environmental and territorial solution to the problems generated by the mismanagement of cemeteries, through the physicochemical analysis of soil and water and studies of land use compatibility. The results indicate the tendency of contamination caused by the studied cemeteries, since the samples taken in both the rainy and dry season for the measurement of parameters BOD₅, COD, DO, pH and electrical conductivity fail to meet the established requirements of the Ecuadorian and international environmental regulations. In addition, land use conflicts were encountered in the cemetery grounds. It is concluded that the existing cemeteries should be subjected to more detailed environmental analysis and subsequently should be treated as security landfills in the closure and post-closure stage. Also, it has been concluded that the cemeteries should not be located in urban or peri-urban areas.

Although cemeteries are sacred sites where decomposing bodies are permanently deposited, until now relatively little attention has been paid to the possibility that they constitute a source of water contamination. The present research intends to evaluate the levels of physicochemical contamination of rivers near ten cemeteries in central Ecuador by analyzing a variety of physicochemical parameters in the field and laboratory during dry and rainy periods. A statistical analysis was conducted, demonstrating that the majority of variables are lacking for regular patterns or homoscedasticity to be demonstrated. Subsequently, an analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, concluding that there was no significant difference between sampling sections and periods, but there was between pre-established categories, so for that reason it was decided to work only in the dry season and the results were compared with the EPA regulations, depending on the use of water from each river. It was concluded that there is a high probability of environmental contamination in the river by the cemeteries termed “Not suitable” because they registered greater non-compliance with the maximum permissible limits, while cemeteries categorized as “Completely adequate” had a lower probability of contaminating the water. It is suggested that a normative, globally applicable criterion for the optimal location of cemeteries or final disposal sites be established.

(Recibido: 2015/01/19 - Aceptado: 2015/03/25) En la cuenca de Río Grande se construye la presa Propósito Múltiple Chone (PMCH) con una inversión aproximada de 66 millones de dólares que irrigará más de 7000 ha. Por las marcadas diferencias en las precipitaciones, éstas podrían perjudicar la calidad de las aguas, por consiguiente, el objetivo de este trabajo fue establecer la relación existente entre los iones y su ubicación en el gráfico: relación de los iones y mecanismos de procesos químicos de las aguas estableciendo su comportamiento y tendencia. El trabajo fue una investigación no experimental, transversal y descriptiva. Se tomaron 111 muestras simples en el conjunto de cauces que forman la cuenca de Río Grande, en los años 2013 y 2014, durante las épocas de estiaje y lluvia. Los parámetros medidos en las muestras fueron aniones y cationes. Los procesos que controlan la química del agua superficial de la zona de estudio en época de lluvia poseen una predisposición a la mineralización en equilibrio con las rocas, sin embargo, en el periodo de estiaje se observó la predisposición de las aguas hacia la zona donde predomina la evaporación con respecto a la precipitación, aumentando la composición química inorgánica de las aguas que en el tiempo podría ampliarse.

Human decomposition processes generate pulses of nutrients, such as carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in the form of ammonium and nitrate (NO₃⁻), which are released into the surrounding environment. The little exploration related to the potential of cadaveric leachate to influence the physical chemistry and biology of the soil makes it difficult to obtain data and scientific evidence, and subsequently the predominant objective of the current study was to determine soil contamination through the analysis of parameters of physical chemistry that included organic matter (OM), NO₃⁻, texture, humidity, and pH. Soil samples were taken at different depths in two temporary trials (the dry and rainy seasons) in central Ecuador. The Kruskal–Wallace and ANOVA statistical analyses determined significant differences in relation to the sampling sections and by categories, while there were no significant differences in the inter-season analysis; therefore, the study was based on the data obtained in the dry season. The results indicate a tendency towards contamination in cemeteries categorized as critical, that is, moderate, light, and not suitable due to the high values of OM and humidity measured. On the contrary, the soils that corresponded to the cemeteries classified as suitable yielded low values of the analyzed parameters, which corroborates their capacity for the present and future location of cemeteries. Monitoring and managing soil health is crucial to ensure sustainable environmental practices and protect public health; nonetheless, additional research is suggested to confirm the findings of the current study.

Yachay es una institución de educación superior y parque tecnológico, en el cual se generarán proyectos de energía solar a través de paneles fotovoltaicos. Este proceso puede generar la contaminación por plomo en los suelos, esto es posible en vista de que la mayoría de baterías que almacenan la energía solar son fabricadas con éste metal. La caracterización físico-química del suelo permite obtener información de sus propiedades. El objetivo de este trabajo fue caracterizar los suelos con parámetros como el pH, humedad, conductividad eléctrica, densidad real y aparente, porosidad y materia orgánica; también se planteó relacionar la biodisponibilidad y toxicidad del plomo para generar bases para futuros planes de control y contaminación de suelos agrícolas de la zona. Se utilizó el método de zig-zag seleccionando 10 puntos de muestreo georeferenciados en coordinación con la dirección de Gestión Ambiental de Yachay. Para la representación de estos datos se utilizó la interpolación IDW. El pH resultó de 8.14 promedio, el contenido de humedad estuvo asociado a un suelo franco-arenoso, la conductividad eléctrica fue 0,72 dS m-1, la materia orgánica indicó suelos aptos para la agricultura. Se diseñó un experimento de contaminación por Plomo en el suelo y se realizaron isotermas de adsorción. Así, los suelos de Yachay presentaron una textura franco-arenosa, los procesos de lixiviación y retención de plomo fueron bajos, un 15% de retención de plomo indicó que el plomo no se fija en los suelos de Yachay.