{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T23:12:08Z","timestamp":1776899528274,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]],"date-time":"2024-02-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1708300800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica de Chimborazo"},{"name":"University of Calabria"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Toxics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Gold mining activity is a source of supply in many areas of the world, and especially in developing countries, it is practiced illegally and by applying unsafe techniques. Particularly in Ecuador, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is widespread, and it is based on the use of toxic substances, such as mercury (Hg), in gold recovery. Hg is a heavy metal that is water-insoluble, which, once mobilized, poses a threat to both the environment and human health. This study analyzes Hg concentrations in the six provinces of Napo, Sucumb\u00edos, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago, and Zamora Chinchipe of the Ecuadorian Amazon region to conduct a human health risk assessment. Significant differences in Hg levels were found between provinces, but concentrations were below MPL imposed by Ecuadorian regulations everywhere. Nevertheless, a worrisome picture emerges, especially with regard to the most vulnerable receptors represented by the child population. There are multiple factors of incidence that may affect the possible future development of the phenomenon, and with reference to the social, economic, and environmental context of the region, it can be concluded that it may be appropriate to plan further investigation to arrive at a more comprehensive assessment. The results of this study can be used by decision makers to plan further investigation and to implement monitoring networks, risk mitigation strategies, and groundwater protection measures.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/toxics12020162","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]],"date-time":"2024-02-19T11:23:57Z","timestamp":1708341837000},"page":"162","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Analysis of Mercury in Aquifers in Gold Mining Areas in the Ecuadorian Amazon and Its Associated Risk for Human Health"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Irene","family":"Passarelli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Michelle Vanessa","family":"Villacis Verdesoto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3538-6754","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Samantha","family":"Jim\u00e9nez-Oyola","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingenier\u00eda en Ciencias de la Tierra, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 V\u00eda Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090101, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ana Gabriela","family":"Flores Huilcapi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Food Science and Engineering and Biotechnology, Universidad T\u00e9cnica de Ambato, Av. Colombia y Chile, Ambato 180104, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7740-2209","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Demmy","family":"Mora-Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Group YASUNI-SDC, Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica de Chimborazo, Sede Orellana, El Coca 220001, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7266-2842","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giorgio","family":"Anfuso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of C\u00e1diz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0483-6433","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jose Fernando","family":"Esparza Parra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Faculty of Natural Resources, Panamericana Sur km 1 \u00bd, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mirian","family":"Jimenez-Gutierrez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Luis Santiago","family":"Carrera Almend\u00e1riz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Victor Gabriel","family":"Avalos Pe\u00f1afiel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Green Amazon, Research Center, Nueva Loja 210150, Ecuador"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1081-6049","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salvatore","family":"Straface","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2401-4151","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carlos","family":"Mestanza-Ram\u00f3n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,2,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"413","article-title":"The Gold Commodity Frontier: A Fresh Perspective on Change and Diversity in the Global Gold Mining Economy","volume":"6","author":"Verbrugge","year":"2019","journal-title":"Extr. 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