Revista CIENCIA Vol. 20, 2, 161-176 (2018) QUANTIFICATION OF THE BIOCONCENTRATION FACTORS IN SCHOENOPLECTUS CALIFORNICUS LOCATED IN LAKE SAN PABLO, IMBABURA- ECUADOR (YEAR, 2017) Suly Rodríguez Ayala (1) , Ronny Flores (2) , Montserrat Rodríguez (3) y Darwin Roldan (4) (1) Carrera de Ingeniería Ambiental. Universidad Central del Ecuador UCE. Av. América y Plaza Indoamérica. Ciudadela Universitaria, Ecuador. smrodriguez@uce.edu.ec (2) Carrera de Química . Universidad Central del Ecuador UCE. Quito, Ecuador. raflores@uce.edu.ec (3) Carrera de Medicina. Universidad de la Américas UDLA. Quito, Ecuador. mnrodriguez@udlanet.ec (4) Laboratorio OSP. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Universidad Central del Ecuador UCE. Quito, Ecuador. dcroldan@uce.edu.ec Received:December 2017. Accepted: June 2018 ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to evaluate the phytoremediation characteristics that certain plants have for the decontamination of soils through the bioconcentration factors. The aquatic plant known as Schoenoplectus californicus or totora that is located in the benthic zones of the Lake San Pablo de Imbabura- Ecuador has been analyzed. The outlets of the tributaries such as the Itambi river, the Apangora spring and the Desaguadero effluent were considered as sampling sites. Instrumental analysis was carried out using the atomic absorption technique with hydride generation and by direct flame the soil, roots and stems of the totora and the concentrations of heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, cobalt, chromium, nickel, lead and cadmium. As a result of the analysis of the bioaccumulation factor in the aerial part of the plant, significant concentrations of mercury, arsenic and cobalt were obtained. It has also been characterized in the Apangora slope as a plant excluding mercury in its stems, in the Itambi River as a hyperaccumulating plant of mercury in its stems and in the Desaguadero as a cobalt accumulator plant in its stems. On the other hand, in the analysis of the bioaccumulation factor in the roots of the plant has been found the presence of chromium, mercury and arsenic. Characteristics have been obtained in the Apangora slope as an accumulator plant of mercury and arsenic in its roots. In the Itambi and Desaguadero rivers as a mercury accumulator and accumulator of arsenic in its roots. It has been proven that the cattails have specific bioaccumulation characteristics of heavy metals in their roots and stems and therefore, it is considered as a plant that could be used for the bioremediation of contaminated soils. Keywords: main stems, rhizomes, phytodepuration and farming http://dx.doi.org/10.24133/ciencia.v20i2.1213