Faculty members from the Faculty of Geosciences Engineering (FICT) presented, as part of the Master’s Program in Occupational Safety and Health at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Production Sciences (FIMCP), a thesis titled “Assessment of Occupational Risk from Exposure to Heavy Metals and Agrochemicals in Agricultural Areas of the Santa Rosa Canton, El Oro Province,” a study aimed at analyzing occupational risk factors associated with agricultural activities in contexts potentially influenced by environmental contamination.
Study Approach
The study focused on evaluating the occupational exposure of agricultural workers in productive areas of the Santa Rosa canton to heavy metals and agrochemicals by identifying the main routes of contact and assessing indicators associated with occupational risk. This allowed for an understanding of how actual working conditions and interaction with potentially contaminated environmental matrices can affect occupational health, highlighting the importance of analyzing exposure factors in agricultural activities carried out in territories influenced by mining. Based on the identified risks, an intervention plan was also proposed, aimed at preventing and controlling exposure, prioritizing measures commensurate with the magnitude and nature of the detected hazards.
Participation
The event was attended by Juan José González Menéndez, an analyst in the Master’s Program in Geotechnical Engineering, and Carlos Hugo Bustamante Torres, an analyst in the Master’s Program in Petroleum Engineering, both of whom were involved in the academic process.
Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This initiative aligns with the following SDGs:
