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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of environmental pollution and the living conditions of indigenous Ecuadorians on the transmission of enteroparasites in an Andean agricultural area located at high altitude. Environmental pollution was recorded after observation in each community. The parasites were identified by microscopic sediment analysis using physiological saline solution from macerated arthropods, washed vegetables, and human stools, utilizing four coproparasitological techniques (direct examination, Kato–Katz, ether concentration, and Ziehl–Neelsen). The results show that the inadequate disposal of human and animal excreta that contaminate soil and water, incorrect food hygiene, inadequate sanitary infrastructure in houses, a lack of animal veterinary care, and rodent proliferation are important reservoirs of zoonotic parasites. The use of excrement as fertilizer increases the number of flies, which act as mechanical vectors, and vegetables grown in areas with disperse infective parasitic forms act as vehicles that are marketed at the local, regional, and international levels. These analyses verify contamination levels of 52.7% in mechanical vectors, 70.6% in vegetables, and 98.2% in human stools. The agricultural communities analyzed maintained poor hygienic–sanitary and environmental conditions, which had a significant influence on the transmission of enteroparasites that affect human health.

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La presente investigación muestra los resultados del proceso de adsorción de la dureza del agua empleando lechos fijos, con rocas de los volcanes Tungurahua y Reventador. El estudio se realizó sobre el material natural y sustratos tratados químicamente en medio alcalino para generar cagas superficiales negativas. Se determinó la composición química, el área superficial, la porosidad y el pH de los materiales ígneos. A partir de las pruebas de adsorción se comprobó que la capacidad de retención de la dureza depende del contenido de óxidos anfóteros de hierro, aluminio y titanio, siendo el lecho del volcán Tungurahua el que presenta mayor rendimiento (65.5%) con respecto al Reventador (41.6%). Se concluye que este sistema de adsorción representa una alternativa innovadora, de forma sencilla, económica y sustentable para el tratamiento de aguas duras y que puede ser aplicado a las comunidades de bajos recursos para mejorar la calidad del agua de uso doméstico y agropecuario.