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Pollution at Doe Run Peru in La Oroya reaches historic levels

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Mining contamination in La Oroya, a town in Peru's Andes, reached historic and shocking levels last week, reported El Comercio daily.

According to the daily, On Wednesday August 13, the monitoring station located closest to Doe Run Peru's metallurgical complex registered 27,000 micrograms of sulfur for every cubic meter of air.

Through the Air Quality Standard, Peruvian legislation only permits 354 micrograms of sulfur per cubic meter of air, explained El Comercio.

It was reported that these extremely high levels of sulfur were not only detected by monitors near Doe Run Peru's complex but also at hotels and in towns such as Marcavalle and Huari, which are several kilometers from the plant.

After reports of high levels of air pollution were released, the General Directorate for Environmental Health (DIGESA) placed the city in a state of emergency from 9:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m., reported El Comercio.

Townspeople were told to close the windows to their homes and people with lung problems as well as pregnant women were told not to leave their houses.

Furthermore, it was reported that even though the citizens of La Oroya are used to the smell of sulfur, that day they had to walk through the streets with handkerchiefs covering their mouths and noses.

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# rice and sugar says :
19 August, 2008 [ 14:50 ]

While we are following the Fujimori show, our people are smelling sulfur! Allan, you are so smart! Keep us distracted with the show, we won't realize that you are not protecting our country from pollution made by big companies!

# rice and sugar says :
19 August, 2008 [ 14:51 ]

There is nothing I can type in this comment that will stop these people from contaminating their lungs with sulfur!
These people are the forgotten ones.

# Splaktar says :
19 August, 2008 [ 23:43 ]

So based upon this article, the gov't told the people to stay inside, but didn't tell the damn mine to stop polluting the country?!

This mine needs to be heavily fined or shut down completely.

# Paul says :
20 August, 2008 [ 11:40 ]

I doubt they will shutdown or fine anyone.  Imagine how upset the big mining multinationals would be knowing that their "donations" to corrupt politicians, were not greasing the wheels as they should.  

Now we couldn`t have that.  What is it they say on the mining and energy ministry sponsored TV adds... Peru Avanza!  Well for the the dodgy politicians and big business its certainly Advancing. 

I came accross this news story on the BBC a month or so ago.  It got very little exposure on national news or local channels... I wonder why?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7460364.stm

Peru is selling itself out.  Effectively it sold the mountain for $400 per tonne, and this is estimating extraction costs, where in the market price on the day of the sale was $8200 per tonne.  That is more than a 2000% profit. 

In reality, 2000% is a huge underestimate as you also have to factor in the projected surge in raw metal prices over the next 20 years it will take to extract. 

Bargain of the century, well done China.    Why not think ahead Peru?  Drive a harder bargain?  Perphaps consider investing in the technology to mine extract and sell your own raw materials?   Take a loan from he IMF or Wolrd Bank to do it. 

Because, that would mean no massive backhanders and bribes for politicians.  Imagine they might even have to earn their money honestly.   I would love to have a sneak peak at Garcia and cronies Swiss Bank accounts.  Its one of the saddest things about Peru, as someone said on another thread, there is a huge culture of thinking only for today, and thinking only for yourself.  I realize for many that is a consequence of extreme poverty, but politicians have no excuse.

# christine schmidt says :
25 August, 2008 [ 14:27 ]

untill yesterday there were more than 30 comments under this atricle. where are they now ?

# christine schmidt says :
25 August, 2008 [ 15:08 ]

hola riceandsugar- if you have time read my posting in the fujimorie wife article about miss Satomie.I try to see things from a neutral base-free from emotions.Under my name you can find how I evaluate the situation here. You criticize mister Garcia- (read my postings in Peru 21) abridge Peruvians as much as experienced international analysts  say that there seem to be a strong between el Fujimorismo.and leading party Apra which leader you strongly criticize in many of your postings.  
Yes I am in favor of investment- job giving and country improving investment and opposed to contamination. But this is only my private and particular opinion. And lessons in democracy I surely don’t need – but I have I fine sense when it come up to the right of free expression – here my observations. It does not come as a surprise that some of sharp comments about environments under the article of doe run were raised- hopefully by mistake, Quit surely other foreigners who are visiting this page might have seen this comments disappear by mistake or for what reason ever. But it would be interesting to recover these opinions online.Until Yesterday there were like 35 answers under the Doe run article.I gave 3 postings about the matter in general an a specific problem in another area.- the area I know and can judge about because anyone should only speak about the fields he knows.  Therefore the repetition: For anyone who is interested- In Ankash area – Laguna Paron was sold to an energetic company since many years. According to information’s given to the people from the region this Laguna is drying out. There was told that the contract of privatization was done without studies environmental consequences. The Laguna is ubicated in a national park and part of tourist area. The conflict with the company remains unsolved and it seems that local people from the area took over control from the Laguna. According to information given for the winning of electricity locals claim the present owner of the Laguna take more water out than the law allows. There were a big meeting a few days ago in caraz plaza del armas and because I am an affected citizen I also participated. Our water supply diminished since many years. I allow my self to report the case about Paron to Green peace international and other intentional organizations. Conflicts like that happen all over the country and don’t contribute to stability to the country if they remain unsolved.  

# Splaktar says :
25 August, 2008 [ 15:12 ]

christine

You are looking at the wrong news article.  The other Doe Run article has more comments.

# christine schmidt says :
25 August, 2008 [ 15:33 ]

you are right Splaktar-  the thin is I read in several languages and I made a mistake- there were 2 doe run articels- I must have overseen the other -but among the over 40 postings there are many good opinions