Riesgos de exposición a la contaminación por metales en las comunidades

Heavy mineral contamination is a serious problem affecting various populations worldwide. This cause is often associated with multiple health problems, as is widespread misinformation on the subject. In Ecuador, some communities face serious challenges due to this cause, with minimal information available. Likewise, the measures taken to counteract its effects are limited, resulting in a variety of health problems. This research conducted a documentary review of the issue with an emphasis on arsenic contamination, as one of the metals most influential in the problems affecting communities in the country, both due to its presence in water and its ingestion through food products derived from agricultural activities. The symptoms and illnesses experienced by the selected population motivated the development of workshops with the community to provide the necessary information and guidance to enable the adoption of measures to protect health and counteract the spread of the current effects. Surveys and the IADOV method were used to obtain information on residents' knowledge levels and their satisfaction with the activities carried out. It was found that low levels of knowledge lead to greater health impacts, and therefore, work methods were targeted to improve the health of residents.