Hydrocarbon Contamination Patterns in the Cenotes of the Mexican Caribbean: The Application of Principal Component Analy
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Hydrocarbon Contamination Patterns in the Cenotes of the Mexican Caribbean: The Application of Principal Component Analysis J. A. León‑Borges1 · F. Viveros‑Jiménez2 · A. E. Rodríguez‑Mata3 · M. A. Lizardi‑Jiménez4 Received: 12 February 2020 / Accepted: 9 October 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Cenotes are naturally occurring flooded caves that are frequent in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula; they result from the collapse of limestone bedrock into the regional groundwater table. Cenotes in Quintana Roo are important ecological and economic hot spots but are susceptible to anthropogenic pollution. In this study, we collected water samples from 11 cenotes over multiple years to evaluate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations and patterns as associated with tourist traffic. The primary PAHs detected in samples included fluoranthene, anthracene, phenanthrene and naphthalene, with total PAH concentrations increasing almost fivefold for cenotes sampled from 2016 to 2017. This is compared to only a 7% increase in tourist traffic during these years. Multivariate statistical analysis of the PAH concentration data suggests that diesel, gasoline and asphalt are the most likely pollution sources and that they are associated with periods of increased tourist traffic. Keywords Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons · Principal component analysis · Cenotes contamination · Mexican Caribbean contamination The ancient Mayans called “dzonot” what we today know as cenotes. They used this term to refer to a sacred place representing the entrance to the spiritual underworld. There are different kinds of cenotes, each with their own geometry, size, depth and water circulation. The youngest are more similar to rivers than lagoons due to their subterranean flow connections (Schmitter-Soto et al. 2002). The abundance of cenotes and caves can be explained by the calcareous rocks formed millions of years ago due to the accumulation of carbonates ( CaCO3) on the sea’s surface during the Cenozoic Era. Schmitter mentions three principal * M. A. Lizardi‑Jiménez [email protected] 1
Universidad de Quintana Roo, Av. Chetumal SMz 260 Mz 16 y 21 Col. Prado Norte, 77519 Cancún, Mexico
2
EFINFO. Edificio Miguel Hidalgo, Anzures 510, Mariano Escobedo, 11590 Mexico City, Mexico
3
CONACYT-Tecnológico Nacional de México/Instituto Tecnológico de Culiacán, Av. Juan de Dios Bátiz 310 Pte. Col. Guadalupe, 80220 Culiacán Rosales, Sinaloa, Mexico
4
CONACYT-Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2da. Secc., 78210 San Luis Potosí, Mexico
hydrological watersheds. One of these is the cryptorheic basin (hidden river) in the Yucatan State, north of Quintana Roo. Moreover, cenotes are classified into four types: semiopen (“ch’e’n”), open or cylindrical (freefall, vertical wall), ancient cenote (more similar to a watery lagoon without a current) and cave (lateral entrance) (Hall 1977). Cenotes can also be distinguished by their degree of connection to the aquifer
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