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In this paper the levels of concentration of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in waters and sediments from the ecosystem San Juan in the Santiago of Cuba province were evaluated. Two sampling of the ecosystem in two stations belonging to the high and middle part of the river, in rainy and little rainy periods were carried out. The conservation and treatment of the samples were developed according to established standards and the determinations of the elements were realized using atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. The concentrations intervals of the studied elements were established so much in the superficial waters like in the sediments and it was demonstrated that exists statistical significant differences for the factors station, period and type of sample, being the middle part of the river, the little rainy period and the sediments, where the grater concentrations of the pollutants appear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An explosive increase of the antropogenic river contamination is the result of population and industries griwth and also had important contribution the indiscrimanate use of synthetic products. This situation is for Cuba, a narrow and long island with limited hydraulic resources, a very alarming problem. In this paper Los Guaos River water quality, whose end is the Santiago de Cuba's bay, was studied. Monthly, in the February-April period, using six sampling stations, 22 physical, chemistry and bacteriologic parameters were determined. This information brought that this river in its complete length is highly contaminated and then its water is invalidated for supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]