Resumen

RAMIREZ; RESTREPO, R  y  CARDENOSA, M. ÍNDICES DE CONTAMINACIÓN PARA CARACTERIZACIÓN DE AGUAS CONTINENTALES Y VERTIMIENTOS. FORMULACIONES. C.T.F Cienc. Tecnol. Futuro [online]. 1999, vol.1, n.5, pp.89-99. ISSN 0122-5383.

Contamination indexes (ICO) for characterization of natural water bodies and industrial discharges have been formulated in previous works by Ramirez, et al, 1 997. In this work, complementary indexes not correlated with other ICOs previously developed are established thus resulting in a complementary tool to be applied in the interpretation and characterization on continental surface water bodies. First, a pH index (ICOpH) is obtained to determine pH incidence on water quality interpretation. A temperature index (ICOTEM) is also obtained to evaluate effluent incidence on receiving water bodies. ICOTEM is based on temperature difference of the wastewater discharge and the water body. Finally, indexes for the evaluation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons are also developed based on data collected on sediments and fish tissue samples. These hydrocarbon compounds are highly viable to accumulate and produce longterm detrimental effects on living organisms. These latter indexes have been developed based on data of nearly 1 30 samples collected during monitoring campaigns in streams and water bodies affected by discharges of the petroleum industry or by accidental spills of crude oil or hydrocarbon by-products in Colombian streams; it is also possible that anthropic influence other than petroleum discharges might be affecting the streams included in the monitoring campaigns.

Palabras clave : pollution indices; water quality; environmental assessment; environmental impact; industrial discharges.

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