Study to Determine Levels of Cadmium in Cocoa Crops Applied to Inland Areas of Peru: “The Case of the Campo Verde-Honoria Tournavista Corridor”

Abstract

The presence of cadmium (Cd) in cocoa crops is currently a serious problem for farmersand producers in various regions of South America. Because its exports of cocoa and derivativesto European markets are threatened by possible signs of contamination in cocoa beans for export.Territories with a low organic component predated and exploited by illegal logging, burning andthe intensity of unsustainable land use is common in large Amazonian areas in countries ofthe region. These factors were incorporated in statistical analysis in order to relate them to thecontents of Cd in soil, leaves and beans in the study areas located in Peru. Such as the CampoVerde-Honoria-Tournavista corridor (Ucayali Region and Huanuco Region). Cadmium concentrationswere determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. As a consequence of this study,we determined and concluded that the observed difference in distribution of Cd contents by sectorscan be explained by previous land use and age of cocoa crop. Indeed, the average content of Cd insoil in all cocoa growing areas is higher than the standard established by the Peruvian Ministry ofthe Environment (MINAM). However, when the measurements obtained in previously predatedand exploited sectors are not considered, the Hotelling’s T2 simultaneous 90% confidence intervalcontains the value of the Peruvian standard 1.4 mg/kg. Therefore, with this information we preparea geochemical Cd map in soils for the study area, which will help cocoa producers to identify areasthat exceed the allowed Cd values. In this way, we can carry out in the future a mitigation plan forareas with Cd problems, which allows to reduce their content with major challenges to sustainableagriculture and rural development.

Bioremediation Potential of Native Bacillus sp. Strains as a Sustainable Strategy for Cadmium Accumulation of Theobroma cacao in Amazonas Region

“…Samples analysis from the major Peruvian cacao producer regions overpasses the maximum cadmium values of the international standard limits set (0.80 µg/g) in the Commission Regulation (EU) N • 488/2014 [6]. For example, cocoa bean samples from Piura, Tumbes and, Huánuco have shown Cd 2+ values over 0.96 µg/g [23,24]. More recently, [25] reported elevated cadmium contents in root, leaf, testa, and cotyledon samples in 59% of the plots were evaluated in the province of Bagua, department of Amazonas.…”

Heavy Metal Pollution and Its Effects on Agriculture

“…The transfer of Cd from soils with different Cd contents caused by agricultural techniques in the Amazonian area into cocoa plants was observed in the article of Rosales-Huamani et al [14]. The increased Cd load in cocoa beans complicates the husbandry of farmers in the area and the study shows the main principles of the problem.…”

Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in Peruvian Food and Medicinal Products

“…[33,48] Tl Gastrointestinal symptoms, hair loss, and permanent neurological damage, which can be fatal Rodenticides and pesticides [49] Ti Hepatic damage Factories that produce titanium tetrachloride [33,50] U Kidney failure, decreased bone growth, DNA damage, carcinogenesis, and mutations in animals Natural (groundwater), nuclear power plants, and industrial activities (catalysts and pigments) [51,52] Galagarza et al [53] developed a review of the chemical contaminants (including metals) contained in Peruvian plant-based food products. For the specific case of metals, the authors developed a review of six inorganic pollutants (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, and Cr) in 28 food products documented in 16 studies [54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69]. Building upon their findings, we conducted an extensive literature search of scientific publications related to metal bioaccumulation in Spanish (undergraduate and graduate theses from 50 public universities as well as peer reviewed journals and reports) considering 16 metals that are known to exert toxic impacts on humans (Hg, Al, Sb, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Sn, Ni, Ag, Pb, Se, Tl, Ti, and U because they were evaluated in the country's investigations) and bioaccumulated in food and medicinal products common to the Peruvian diet.…”

“…Galagarza et al [ 53 ] developed a review of the chemical contaminants (including metals) contained in Peruvian plant-based food products. For the specific case of metals, the authors developed a review of six inorganic pollutants (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, As, and Cr) in 28 food products documented in 16 studies [ 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. Building upon their findings, we conducted an extensive literature search of scientific publications related to metal bioaccumulation in Spanish (undergraduate and graduate theses from 50 public universities as well as peer reviewed journals and reports) considering 16 metals that are known to exert toxic impacts on humans (Hg, Al, Sb, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Sn, Ni, Ag, Pb, Se, Tl, Ti, and U because they were evaluated in the country’s investigations) and bioaccumulated in food and medicinal products common to the Peruvian diet.…”