The objective of the research was through key actors to identify the contamination by hydrocarbons and heavy metals in water and the main sources of contamination in the municipality of Macuspana, Tabasco. Methodology: A diagnosis was made, by applying questionnaires through interviews directed to the inhabitants of the municipality of Macuspana and workers in the oil sector. The data were processed with frequency analysis, Kruskal Wallis, analysis of variance, and multivariate with two factors. Results: It was shown that there has been historical contamination, for 30 years, there is evidence of dead organisms in the water bodies, and the presence of various diseases in the population due to exposure to contaminants from hydrocarbons and heavy metals that derive from the oil activity. There is evidence of a negative impact due to the presence of spills from disabled wells due to a lack of maintenance programs. Implications: The economy in most of the Gulf of Mexico is based on the extraction, processing, and distribution of hydrocarbons. This industry´s growth increased the number of exploration and production of oil wells, generating a direct impact on aquatic environments. The state of Tabasco is one of the largest oil producers, as well as fishing resources of commercial and environmental importance, which are directly affected by oil activity. Findings: The study found cases of diseases in the population correlated with exposure to hydrocarbons. Conclusions: There is little interest from the oil sector about public health problems in the population and environmental damage to the ecosystems in the municipality of Macuspana, Tabasco.

El municipio de Cotaxtla, Veracruz aportó el 50% de la producción nacional de papaya, esto es 49 mil toneladas al año. Esta producción puede verse reducida por la presencia de contaminantes en el cultivo que inhiben el desarrollo morfológico y fisiológico de la planta; además de degradar el suelo y el agua. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar: 1) los factores de cambio que involucran nuevos fenómenos relacionados con el cultivo de papaya (Carica papaya L.) y 2) las variables estratégicas que caracterizan al sistema de producción en el municipio de Cotaxtla, Veracruz El estudio se realizó de octubre de 2023 a marzo de 2024 en el municipio de Cotaxtla, Veracruz, y se utilizó una metodología de tipo prospectiva, se realizaron talleres participativos para la exploración de los factores de cambio e identificación de las variables estratégicas que influyen en la toma decisiones enfocadas en reducción de los riesgos de contaminación del producto, suelo y agua. Se utilizó el análisis estructural o método ‘MicMac’ y se identificaron 44 factores de cambio y cinco variables estratégicas de mayor influencia y dependencia. De acuerdo con la sintaxis lógica: a través de la capacitación adecuada en el manejo de los agroquímicos y sus residuos sólidos peligrosos y la incorporación de las buenas prácticas agrícolas; se disminuirán los riesgos de contaminación, se incrementará la producción, mejorará la calidad y la competitividad en el mercado. Este conocimiento permite diseñar acciones para la reducción de los riesgos de contaminación en el cultivo de papaya del municipio de Cotaxtla, Veracruz.

Landscape fragmentation is a dynamic process with multiple effects. In addition to reducing the area of priority ecosystems such as mangroves, it also generates alterations in ecological functions and environmental processes, with significant socioeconomic and ecological consequences. The objective of this research was to determine the impact of anthropic development on landscape fragmentation within the Environmental System (ES) that includes the Arroyo Moreno Ecological Reserve (REAM) and the Tembladeras-Laguna Olmeca Ecological Reserve (RETLO), located in central Veracruz Mexico. Fragstats V4.3 Beta software was used to analyze landscape metrics at the patch, class, and landscape levels, using nine indicator metrics for assessing fragmentation. The analysis of the metrics at the three levels showed a reduction in the total area for some classes such as Mangrove (MG), Water Bodies (WB), and Agricultural and Livestock (AL). Class-level metrics such as total area, percentage of landscape, and number of patches showed greater differences for some classes between 2001 and 2023. However, some values increased in 2015. However, this research is considered the first study conducted in the area to comprehensively use a set of landscape metrics at three organizational levels, offering a more accurate description of the status of priority ecosystems (RAMSAR sites) such as the wetlands of the coastal zone of Veracruz. It also demonstrated the importance of the constantly expanding anthropic development in the study area over the last 20 years and the potential pressure it exerts on biodiversity conservation sites such as wetlands.

El ensayo presenta al Panel Intergubernamental del Cambio Climático y al grupo antagónico de científicos Escépticos que promueven el Calentamiento Global. El objetivo fue analizar ambas posturas que tratan del origen o causas de los cambios ambientales que existen a la fecha. Se revisó literatura en diferentes bases de datos para argumentar sus características a través del ejercicio epistémico que aplica la dialéctica crítica en la comparación de los conceptos Cambio Climático y Calentamiento Global. Como resultado se elaboró la síntesis para comprender ambas posturas analizadas desde sus fortalezas como resultado del pensamiento crítico. El ensayo contribuye para que los lectores comprendan y se apropien de perspectivas claras de las posturas, con respecto de temas en común. Además, fueron proporcionadas las bases para crear conciencia con respecto a la temporalidad de los cambios en el medio ambiente, sus efectos, consecuencias y su mitigación. Se concluyó que aún en la actualidad, aunque se observan los efectos comprobados o no de un desequilibrio ecológico, existe una realidad en la mayoría de la humanidad de una falta de conciencia colectiva dañina para los seres vivos y el medio ambiente.

Nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3-), the most common pollutant in groundwater, is a result of the effect of diffuse sources of pollution like agriculture and animal husbandry intensive. The land use for these economic activities is very common in the Los Ríos sub-region in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, where the Los Ríos and Boca del Cerro aquifers are located. The aim of this research was to assess the concentrations of nitrate-nitrogen (N-NO3-) in groundwater, determine the quality in agreement with the maximum permissible limits established by national and international regulations, and the risks to the public health and aquatic life. The spatial distribution of N-NO3- was determined using the inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation technique. The average nitrate-nitrogen concentration was 0.76 mg.L-1, while the maximum concentration observed was 3.98 mg.L1. This does not exceed the maximum permissible limit (MPL) established in the national and international normativity for drinking water. However, in 50% of the sampling sites, the concentrations of N-NO3- exceed the MPL established in Mexico for the protection of the life of seawater. Relatively low concentrations of N-NO3- have shown to be toxic to certain aquatic organisms, and the aquifers studied discharge a third of the water to the rivers in the area, which flow into the Laguna de Términos Campeche and the Gulf of Mexico. Laguna de Términos Campeche is one of the most diverse and rich environmental systems on earth, where numerous ecosystems converge such as coastal lagoons, wetlands, mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs.