Environmental Impacts and Health Effects in the Surroundings of the Río Hondo, Cauca

Abstract

Introduction: the community of the El Salvador village lacks a sewage system, which leads to the direct discharge of untreated wastewater into the Río Hondo. The inhabitants are unaware of the environmental impacts and health risks associated with this practice.
Objective: the purpose of this study was to identify environmental impacts and health symptoms in the area surrounding the Río Hondo that crosses through the village.
Methods: two methodological phases were established for data collection. In the first phase, environmental aspects related to the water quality of the Río Hondo were identified using a checklist and a Leopold matrix. The second phase involved determining health symptoms related to environmental factors in the area, for which a survey was conducted with a sample population of 60 people.
Results: an 87.5% non-compliance rate was observed compared to a 12.5% compliance rate regarding environmental factors, indicating a higher percentage of environmental impact concerning water quality, land use, biodiversity, pollution sources, regulations, and human health impacts. Poor waste disposal and the lack of sewage management exacerbate the environmental and health issues faced by the inhabitants of the area. The most frequently reported symptoms in the survey were stomach pain and intestinal infections (46.7%), followed by dengue (43.3%), chikungunya (3.3%), and malaria (3.3%).
Conclusion: the absence of an adequate sewage system and improper waste disposal significantly contribute to environmental and health problems in the El Salvador village community. It is crucial to implement environmental management and public health measures to mitigate these adverse effects.