IGCP-UNESCO

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IGCP-707: Origin, distribution, and biogeochemistry of Arsenic in the Altiplano-Puna plateau of South America

Blood sampling in Uru Chipaya Nation, Bolivian Altiplano

This is a 3 years (2020-2022) project funded by the IGCP-UNESCO.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, this international collaborative research investigates specific sites within the Altiplano-Puna plateau of Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile to better understand (i) the origin of arsenic, (ii) its geochemistry and mobility, (iii) its distribution in the environment, and (iv) its effects in the local community and unusual biodiversity.

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 140 million people from 50 countries are exposed to drinking water containing arsenic levels higher than the recommended limit (> 10 μg/L). In South America, the second highest plateau on Earth referred to as the “Altiplano-Puna”, which encompasses areas of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Perú, exhibits high As concentrations in water that could be affecting 3 million inhabitants.

Human health, the environment, as well as scientific insight will benefit from this research. Moreover, the results and interpretations of this research will have substantial applicability to other regions of the world that experience elevated aqueous arsenic concentrations.

UNESCO Link IGCP-UNESCO-project 707

IGCP-707: Origen, distribución y biogeoquímica del Arsénico en el Altiplano-Puna de Sudamérica.

Plancton sampling in Los Pozuelos lagoon, Argentina

Este es un proyecto financiado por la IGCP-UNESCO con una duración de 3 años (2020-2022).

Utilizando un enfoque interdisciplinario y cooperación internacional, se investigan sitios específicos en Altiplano-Puna para comprender (i) el origen del arsénico, (ii) su geoquímica y movilidad, (iii) su distribución en el medio ambiente y (iv) sus efectos en la comunidad local e inusual biodiversidad.

Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud, aproximadamente 140 millones de personas de 50 países están expuestas al consumo de agua con niveles de arsénico superiores al límite recomendado (> 10 μg/L). En América del Sur, la región del "Altiplano-Puna", que es el segundo plateau más alto del planeta abarcando territorios de Argentina, Bolivia, Chile y Perú, presenta concentraciones de arsénico elevados que podrían estar afectando a 3 millones de habitantes.

La salud humana, el medio ambiente, así como el conocimiento científico se beneficiarán de esta investigación. Los resultados e interpretaciones de este proyecto tendrán una aplicabilidad sustancial a otras regiones del mundo que experimentan concentraciones elevadas de arsénico.

Link de UNESCO IGCP-UNESCO-proyecto 707

Información del proyecto / Project information

Conoce los investigadores responsables / Meet the leaders of the project

Nuestros objetivos / Our main objectives

Nuestras zonas de estudio / Our study areas

Nuestras publicaciónes / Our publications

Tapia, J.; Mukherjee, A., Rodríguez, M. P., Murray, J.; Bhattacharya, P. 2022. Role of tectonics and climate on elevated arsenic in fluvial systems: Insights from surface water and sediments along regional transects of Chile. Environmental Pollution, 314, 120151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.120151

Tapia, J., Murray, J., Ormachea-Muñoz, M., & Bhattacharya, P. 2022. The Unique Altiplano-Puna Plateau: Environmental Perspectives. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 115, 103725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2022.103725

Tapia J., Audry S. Murray J, Bhattacharya P, Ormachea-Muñoz M., Quino-Lima I., Nordstrom D.K. 2022. The solid-state partitioning, distribution, and mineralogical associations of arsenic and antimony: Integrated findings from the Altiplano Puna, South America and international comparisons. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 114, 103713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2022.103713

Plaza-Cazón, J.; Benítez, L.; Murray, J.; Kirschbaum, P.; Donati, E. 2021. Influence of Extremophiles on the Generation of Acid Mine Drainage at the Abandoned Pan de Azúcar Mine (Argentina). Microorganisms 9, 281. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020281

Tapia, J., Schneider, B., Inostroza, M., Álvarez-Amado, F., Luque, J.A., Aguilera, F., Parra, S., Bravo., M. 2021. Naturally elevated arsenic in the Altiplano-Puna, Chile and the link to recent (Mio-Pliocene to Quaternary) volcanic activity, high crustal thicknesses, and geological structures, Journal of South American Earth Sciences 105, 102905, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102905

Murray J., Nordstrom D.K., Dold B., Kirschbaum A. 2021. Seasonal fluctuations and geochemical modeling of acid mine drainage in the semi-arid Puna region: the Pan de Azúcar Pb-Ag-Zn mine, Argentina. Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 103197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2021.103197

Escalera R., Ormachea O., Ormachea M., García J.L., Suso J., García M.E., Hornero J., Fernandez O., Zelaya A., Huallpara L. 2020. Diseño e implementación de un sistema de tratamiento para la remoción de arsénico del agua de consumo en el altiplano y los valles de Bolivia , Revista Investigación & Desarrollo 20(1):23-39. http://dx.doi.org/10.23881/idupbo.020.1-2i

Lima I. Q., Ramos Ramos O. E., Ormachea Muñoz M., Chambi Tapia M. I., Quintanilla Aguirre J., Ahmad A., Prakash Maity J., Islam Md. T.l, Bhattacharya P. 2020. Geochemical mechanisms of natural arsenic mobility in the hydrogeologic system of Lower Katari Basin, Bolivian Altiplano, Journal of Hydrology, 125778, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125778 .

Lima I. Q., Ormachea Muñoz M., Ramos Ramos O. E., Quintanilla Aguirre J., Prakash Maity J., Ahmad A., Bhattacharya P. 2020. Hydrogeochemical contrasts in the shallow aquifer systems of the Lower Katari Basin and Southern Poopó Basin, Bolivian Altiplano, Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 102914, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102914

Tapia, J., Audry, S., van Beek, P. 2020. Natural and anthropogenic controls on particulate metal(loid) deposition in Bolivian highland sediments, Lake Uru Uru (Bolivia). The Holocene, 30(3):428-440, https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0959683619887425

De Loma, J., Tirado, N., Ascui, F., Levi,M., Vahter,M., Broberg,M., Gardon, J., 2019. Elevated arsenic exposure and efficient arsenic metabolism in indigenous women around Lake Poopó,Bolivia. Sci. Total Environ. 657, 179–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.473 .

Murray, J., Nordstrom, D. K., Dold, B., Romero Orué, M., & Kirschbaum, A. 2019. Origin and geochemistry of arsenic in surface and groundwater of Los Pozuelos Basin, Puna region Argentina. Science of the Total Environment, 697, 134085, https ://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134085

Tapia, J., Murray, J., Ormachea, M., Tirado, N., Nordstrom, D., K., 2019. Origin, distribution, and geochemistry of arsenic in the Altiplano-Puna plateau of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Perú. Sci. Total Environ. 678, 309–325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.084

Investigadores que colaboran con el proyecto / Other researchers collaborating with the project

Nuestros estudiantes / Our students

Instituciones que colaboran con el proyecto / Other institutions that cooperate with the project