Presencia de metales pesados Cadmio y Plomo en el estuario del río Chone Manabí, Ecuador.// Presence of cadmium and lead heavy metals in the estuary of Chone River - Manabí, Ecuador

The present study aims to determine the presence of cadmium and lead heavy metals in the Chone River estuary; Ecuador, during June to September 2014, six water samples and five soil samples were obtained at six sites, with two replications per site giving a total of 66 samples. The analysis was performed according to the protocol of Merck-Millipore Kit for cadmium and lead. Cadmium concentrations in the water were higher at the P4 site (0.129 mg/L). The level of cadmium in the sediment showed greater accumulation (0.0033 mg/g) in the P2 site. The sites with higher level of lead were P5 and P6 (0.18 y 0.21 mg/L respectively), these were places with greater flow of water of the Chone River estuary (8 UPS: Practical Units of Salinity) and less influence of the sea water currents (30 UPS). The results compared with Ecuadorian legislation show high concentrations of cadmium in the ecosystem of Chone River estuary, which could affect the health of organisms living at the water column level, such as fish, as well as recreational activities for local bathers from Sucre and San Vicente cantons from Manabí province.