HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 5 (ACN) Researchers from the Cienfuegos Center for Environmental Studies (CEAC by its Spanish acronym) joined a new project on environmental contamination in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and lagoons in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), sponsored by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Professionals in the sector expressed their support for the initiative, along with peers from 16 countries in the region, at a virtual and coordination meeting, informed the Network of Nuclear Communicators (REDNUC).
They explained its application will be for four years, under the title Evaluation of organic and inorganic environmental contamination in rivers, lakes, reservoirs and lagoons in Latin America and the Caribbean, and its impact on the risk of proliferation of cyanobacteria producing cyanotoxins that affect human health.
The objective is to strengthen the governance and sustainable management of rivers, lakes and reservoirs in LAC by improving the regional capabilities of multidisciplinary teams of professionals, with the support of governmental environmental institutions in each country.
REDNUC quoted statements by Cuban expert Aimee Valle Pombrol, to the effect that one of the main water quality problems in the world is associated with the progressive increase in pollution and eutrophication (excessive increase in nutrients) of aquatic environments.
Only in our region, she said, 25 million people lack drinking water services and 89 million do not have access to sanitation.
The project will benefit the areas of water management and public health, the population that consumes or uses water from rivers and reservoirs in the region, local producers, aquaculture product processing institutions, food quality supervision and public health authorities, among others.
The event was attended by participants from Argentina, Brazil, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Venezuela.
