Geochemical Insights into Health Risks from Potentially Toxic Elements in Rural Aqueducts of Cocle, Panama: Unveiling Links to Local Geology

The El Valle Volcanic Complex, located in the province of Cocle, Panama, presents geological characteristics that could be linked to public health problems. This study focuses on the municipalities of San Juan de Dios, Pajonal, and Caballero, where water is consumed directly from springs (groundwater outcrops). The region has a high incidence of non-traditional chronic kidney disease (nt-CKD) that may be associated with the natural presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the water. This study aimed to analyze the concentration of PTEs in groundwater and assess the carcinogenic (CR) and non-carcinogenic (HQ) risk to human health from the direct ingestion of water. Sediments, rocks, and water samples were collected. Major ions and PTEs (As, Al, Ba, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Sr, Sb, Pb, V, and Zn) were measured, and the mineralogical composition of the rocks was analyzed. The results showed that Fe was the only PTE that exceeded the recommended concentration for drinking water, according to Panama regulations, and Pb according to USEPA. In Caballero and Pajonal, the acceptable threshold for CR and HQ was exceeded, a higher percentage than in San Juan de Dios. The PTEs that contribute most to the risk are Co, Cu, Pb, and As. This study suggests that the region’s historical volcanic activity, involving the release of minerals rich in these PTEs, along with the interaction between groundwater and volcanic rocks, may be contributing to the presence of PTEs in the water. This geological phenomenon could be what has led to prolonged exposure to these elements, which correlates with the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the area. This is a novel study, the first conducted in Panama, as it seeks to uncover the relationship between the geology of the site, the presence of PTEs in the groundwater of springs for human consumption, and the implication of health risks, with the aim of generating new information for decision makers for the generation of public policies on health issues such as nt-CKD and cancer in the region.