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Purpose The El Granero reservoir is the last reservoir of the Rio Conchos before it joins the RioGrande at the Mexico-USA border. This reservoir, together with the San Marcos reservoir, is located in the arid region of Chihuahua, Mexico. High, naturally occurring radioactivity levels, as well as high arsenic (As) concentrations, have been found in both reservoirs. The main goal of this research was to establish the spatial and temporal distribution of trace and radioactive elements in surface sediments and cores collected from these reservoirs.

Materials and methods Sediment cores were dated using Pb-210 and Cs-137 measurements and applying the constant rate of supply (CRS) model. Major, trace, and radioactive elements were determined in surface samples and three sediment cores. Radioactive elements were determined by both alpha and gamma spectrometry. Major and trace elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) using the EPA 3051a method. Enrichment factors (EF), contamination factors (CF), and pollution load indexes (PLI) were calculated in order to identify the human impact in both reservoirs, whereas the chemical index weathering (CIW) was used to assess differences in the degree of weathering.

Results and discussion High uranium (U) enrichment (EFs = 24.9-54.7) was observed in core layers at the San Marcos reservoir, while in surface sediments, this enrichment was lower. The high variability of lead (Pb) and As in sediment cores from the Granero reservoir was attributed to human influence. Arsenic and Pb enrichment differences between entry and exit sediment cores were explained by the filtering capabilities of the elongated shape, the topography, and the presence of plants on the reservoir’s bed. The highest PLI was found at the entrance core of the Granero reservoir.

Conclusions The natural element concentration levels of As, Pb, and U were established at the Granero reservoir. High EFs for As and Pb suggest an anthropogenic origin of these pollutants at specific time intervals. High U concentrations in the San Marcos area are explained as naturally occurring. The concentrations of As in most of the studied sediments could pose a risk to human health by As ingestion, since they are above the probable effect level (PEL).