Toxic Lead Smelting Operation in La Oroya, Peru

The health and environmental conditions endured by the more than 30,000 residents of La Oroya in the central Peruvian Andes represent a clear violation of the human rights to health, life, food, and a clean and healthy environment. Since 1922, a nearby multi-metal smelter, currently operated by the Doe Run Corporation of Missouri, has been contaminating the urban environment surrounding the smelter with toxic emissions. A 1999 blood evaluation conducted in La Oroya by the Ministry of Health shows that 99.1% of 346 children tested have blood-lead levels indicative of lead poisoning, and that nearly 20% of these require immediate hospitalization. Because lead inhibits neurological development, the thousands of children poisoned by the smelter will likely be impaired for life. Despite these statistics, the company and government have failed to address the root cause of the problem -- poor environmental controls at the smelter.

Earthjustice and its siter organization AIDA have been fighting for the rights of these people.

Learn More Here:
http://www.earthjustice.org/library/features/peruvian-court-orders-relief-for...

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• La
• Oroya
• Peru
• Lead
• Toxic
• Contamination
• Pollution
• Environmetal
• Justice
• Earthjustice
• Doe
• Run

[zDurden21]

I wish more people would watch this video. The sad truth is people don't give a damn-

I saw a report about the owner, he is a billionaire who lives in the Hamptons. He owns another lead factory in West Virginia, but the pollution is a bit more contained overthere-

It's fucking sad

[lucialamour]

@Ma77hew Grrr nothing like someone who is stubborn & is doing the very thing they are accusing of others of doing. Stop blindly stating your opinions as facts, do a little research before you come across as more of an ejit! Its a figure of speech, duh! Really, the US has nothing to do with this Lead Smelting plant? Hahaha you dumbarse, its owned by the US company "Doe Run."

[IAmCaterpillar]

The sad thing is, they need this to survive. If they just wipe out the plant, lots of people loose their jobs. In fact, some sweat shops pay more than local businesses would pay these guys. The people want these jobs, just not the crappy conditions.

[mksapper]

@PaulPradaShow It is not just a government issue nor is it a hatred towards the US.  Whether you like it or not the company that has the plant there is owned by a US company and they're not taking these people's health and well-being into consideration. You wanna know why they put a plant here? It's so they don't have to spend the the time and money to enforce safety standards, etc. So maybe the company better dig into their budget a little and consider the risks and consequences.

[PaulPradaShow]

Instead of blaming the U.S., which is always the case when anything goes wrong in the world, how about doing something to make a change in your own government? This company is owned by an American man, not the U.S. If people in Lybia, Sudan, Egypt, and Syria can stand up to their governments, so can the people of Peru.

[greendaysofi]

Yeoo , these fucking factories shud be illegal -___-

[TheEnvirowatch]

Please check out "Poison Playtime" on the NY Post - finally the mass media is starting to take notice.

[TheEnvirowatch]

The US media is finally starting to take notice.

[04shaly]

BASTA YA de ofender ami tierra habalndo estupideces el senor porque no dice cuando trabajaba en la emprese lo VENDIA LA LECHE EL KEROSENE TOALLA ZAPATOSy no cuidaba su SALUD y la senora mentiras sobre los animales en lLA OROYA no existen animales por que nohay vegetacion BASTA YA de matratar mi OROYA

[04shaly]

todo esta bien pero que no digan mas mentiras basta ya de ofender a mi tierra ablando estupideces de la contaminacion de la senora sobre los animales en la oroya nocrese nada ni hay aninales el senor habla por que es un renegado que lo sacaron por borracho como no dicen cuando alos trabajadoes les daban leche zapatos toalla querosene y lo bendian y no cuidaban su salud VIVA LA OROYA

[lucialamour]

@Ma77hew Thank you too!

[Ma77hew]

@lucialamour I am sorry myself, for not researching the subject enough, and I would like to thank you for turning around and talking in a polite and non-insulting manner. I do believe that what going on there is horrible and I think everyone around the world agrees that it is a problem. It really is too bad that nobody can really help fix this at least not until the world's economy is better. Well I think we shall leave it at that. Once again, thank you, and I also wish you a nice day.