This article presents a comparative analysis of data reported between 2009 and 2018 on the concentration of heavy metals in marine organisms from the coastal provinces of El Oro and Guayas, Ecuador. Through the critical review of previous scientific studies, maximum bioaccumulation values were consolidated in key species such as Anadara tuberculosa, which presented 870 mg/kg of mercury (limit: 0.5 mg/kg), Anadara similis with 37.21 mg/kg of cadmium (limit: 1 mg/kg), and Anadara grandis with 14.13 mg/kg of lead (limit: 0.3 mg/kg). These results reflect an extremely toxic dietary exposure that exceeds international limits by up to 1,740 times.
The methodology consisted of the collection, analysis and correlation of metal values in estuarine tissues, water and sediments, contrasted with the limits of organizations such as FAO, WHO and Codex. The findings show chronic pollution, persistent over time and spatially distributed in areas of high human consumption. The absence of specific regulations that sanction responsible sources such as illegal mining and the lack of urban wastewater treatment aggravates the problem and prolongs its health impact.
As part of the quantitative approach, descriptive statistical methods were applied to assess the frequency, distribution, and spread of diseases related to heavy metal exposure. Measures of central tendency and variability (mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation and coefficient of variation) were calculated, with the support of Microsoft Excel as a processing tool. The analysis of these data, in particular the morbidity records in mining areas of the country between 2009 and 2019, strengthened the understanding of the problem and was the starting point that inspired the elaboration of this article as a concrete contribution to the scientific debate on public health and food contamination.
The conclusions warn of a real risk of neurological, renal and hematological effects in coastal populations. This study shows the urgency of establishing a national regulation that regulates the quality of marine products and demands environmental responsibility from polluting sectors. Within this article you will find not only the most critical levels of exposure reported in the country, but also a methodological approach that transforms scattered data into a well-founded epidemiological alert, a major threat to public health that requires coordinated, multidisciplinary and evidence-based responses.
Keywords: Zaruma, artisanal mining, heavy metals, public health, health risk, Ecuador.
How to cite this article: Zumba Novay EG, Cuenca Pérez DE, Torres Jara AC, Tacle Humanante PM, Zumba Novay FX, Ramos Guambo KE, Peña Robles CJ, Espinosa Jiménez CM, Bioaccumulation Of Heavy Metals In Marine Products From Guayas And El Oro – Ecuador. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(2s): 323-336; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.323-336