The toxic legacy of the gold rush

Image: Expreso

Ecuador has suspected that the southern mining strip, which comprises the Portovelo, Zaruma, Piñas (El Oro) and Camilo Ponce Enríquez (Azuay) towns, where almost 80,000 people live, has polluted waters.

But a total of 17 studies and updated reports (to which this media had access) have turned these assumptions in a tangible certainty: at this point the water, air, land, certain agricultural products, animals and many of the inhabitants from the area feature mercurial or other highly heavy metals poisoning. Or even lethal.

An investigation conducted by Diario Expreso could verify the increasing and unstoppable social, environmental and health effects faced by the inhabitants of the southern mining area, despite government efforts to regulate an industry wedded to informal harmful practices.

Source: http://expreso.ec/actualidad/el-legado-toxico-de-la-fiebre-del-oro-NC224935