Sandra Cortés1,2, Lucía Del Carmen Molina Lagos1, Soledad Burgos3, Héctor Adaros4, Catterina Ferreccio1,2. 1. Departamento de Salud Pública, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. 2. Center for Advanced Chronic Diseases (ACCDIS), Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. 3. School of Public Health, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile. 4. Chañaral's Hospital, Atacama Region, Chile.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Between 1938 and 1975, the city of Chañaral, located in the north of Chile, received 200 megatons of unregulated mining waste, which created an artificial beach 10 kilometers long and covering an area larger than 4 km2. In 1983, this deposit was classified as a serious case of marine pollution in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 1989, dumping ceased due to a judicial order. Until now, the effects of this pollution on the population living around these mine tailings has been unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of exposure to metals by dust from mine tailings in Chañaral, a city located in the northern mining area of Chile. METHODS: The level of urinary metals in a representative sample of adults from Chanaral was determined. RESULTS: Urinary levels of total arsenic (44.6 μg/L), inorganic arsenic (17.0 μg/L) and nickel (2.8 μg/L) were higher than in other areas of Chile. Levels of copper (17.9 μg/L), mercury (1.6 μg/L) and lead (0.9 μg/L) exceeded international values. Of the total subjects, 67.5%, 30.4%, 29.4%, 16.9%, 13.2 and 9.3% presented with high levels of copper, nickel, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, mercury and lead, respectively. CONCLUSION: Thirty-one years after suspension of the discharge of mining waste, the local population in this area remains exposed to metals from the mine tailings. Surveillance and remedial actions addressing the Chañaral mine tailings are needed.
BACKGROUND: Between 1938 and 1975, the city of Chañaral, located in the north of Chile, received 200 megatons of unregulated mining waste, which created an artificial beach 10 kilometers long and covering an area larger than 4 km2. In 1983, this deposit was classified as a serious case of marine pollution in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 1989, dumping ceased due to a judicial order. Until now, the effects of this pollution on the population living around these mine tailings has been unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of exposure to metals by dust from mine tailings in Chañaral, a city located in the northern mining area of Chile. METHODS: The level of urinary metals in a representative sample of adults from Chanaral was determined. RESULTS: Urinary levels of total arsenic (44.6 μg/L), inorganic arsenic (17.0 μg/L) and nickel (2.8 μg/L) were higher than in other areas of Chile. Levels of copper (17.9 μg/L), mercury (1.6 μg/L) and lead (0.9 μg/L) exceeded international values. Of the total subjects, 67.5%, 30.4%, 29.4%, 16.9%, 13.2 and 9.3% presented with high levels of copper, nickel, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, mercury and lead, respectively. CONCLUSION: Thirty-one years after suspension of the discharge of mining waste, the local population in this area remains exposed to metals from the mine tailings. Surveillance and remedial actions addressing the Chañaral mine tailings are needed.
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