Sobreingesta de boro durante la época precolombina en las poblaciones de Arica

Implicancias biológicas y culturales

Bibliographic Data

ID2984993
AuthorsB Arriaza (0000-0001-9921-9253, University of Tarapacá, corresponding author), L Figueroa (0000-0003-4885-9714, University of Tarapacá), G Standen (0000-0002-7510-5160, University of Tarapacá), Natalia Aravena (0000-0002-0050-0246, University of Tarapacá), Arnoldo Vizcarra (0000-0001-9911-1488, University of Tarapacá), Carolina Contreras (0000-0001-6121-6049, University of Tarapacá)
Year2022
Volume68
Pagese5047
Publication date2022-11-09
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEstudios Atacameños Arqueología y antropología surandinas (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0716-0925 • E-ISSN: 0718-1043
PublisherUniversidad Catolica del Norte - Chile (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.22199/issn.0718-1043-2022-0024
OpenAlexW4303192466
LanguageES
Citations received2
References cited13

In some valleys in northern Chile, the natural water reservoirs used for human consumption contain high levels of boron (> 25 mg/L). In local Pre-Colombian populations, this resulted in overexposure which is harmful to human health, causing gastrointestinal and other issues. Boron levels vary regionally, with the Lluta and Camarones Valleys presenting higher mean values (14 and 25 mg/L, respectively) than the Azapa Valley (1 mg/L). To estimate concentrations in northern Chile's pre-Columbian populations, we used molecular absorption spectrophotometry to analyze rib samples of 211 individuals from these valleys. All the ancient rib samples presented mean boron values approximately 7 to 23 times higher than the 10.2 mg/Kg reported for modern bone tissue. Levels were highest in inhabitants of the Lluta Valley (235.52 mg/Kg) and Camarones Valley (119.09 mg/Kg), followed by those from the Azapa Valley (69.97 mg/Kg). We conclude that boron overexposure significantly impacted northern Chile's ancient populations, and the discussions of pre-Columbian settlements and biocultural trajectories should consider water quality

Animal science · Archaeology · Biology · Geography · Human settlement · Veterinary medicine · Forensic and Genetic Research · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Medicine