Proven Health Crisis in La Oroya, Peruvian Religious Delegation Returns from U.S.

June 15, 2007. According to the recent Civil Labor Association report, the people of La Oroya continue to breathe high levels of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Lead, Arsenic, and Cadmium.

The report was based on a study that Doe Run Peru (DRP) conducted for the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines.

In May, DRP claimed that its operations were cleaning up before a national Congressional Committee that addresses Andean, Amazonian, and Afro-Peruvian environmental and ecological concerns. The recent report contradicts those claims. A delegation of Peruvian religious leaders traveled to the U.S. to request that the owner of the Renco Corporation, Ira Rennert, reduce toxic emissions that are emanating from DRP plant. Renco owns DRP. Rennert, a wealthy Jewish businessman, refused to meet with the religious delegation.

The religious delegation was led by Monsignor Pedro Barreto, the Archbishop of Huancayo. Although the delegation was denied the opportunity to talk with Renco, the religious leaders held press conferences with international media, giving the contamination crisis global exposure. The crisis has been repeatedly pushed aside by Renco and the Peruvian government.

DRP claimed that it complied with Peruvian Air Quality Standards. In February, the Worker’s Union monitoring station in La Oroya Antigua indicated that DRP exceeded air standards by 68%. In addition, DRP has emitted more Lead in each of that past two years than it emitted in 2002.
The Worker’s Union Monitoring station in La Oroya Antigua is located one half of a mile from the Metallurgical Complex. It is one of the most representative data collection stations since over half of the population lives in La Oroya Antigua.

La Oroya Antigua reports frequent cases of cancer, reproductive system damage, respiratory disease, and damage to vital organs, especially in youth. The people also experience behavioral changes as a result of cerebral damage and chronic exhaustion, especially in children.
DRP is not obligated to reach Air Quality Standards for SO2 until 2009 according to the 2006 government extension given to DRP. However, the recent data from the DRP report indicates that there has been an annual increase in SO2 over the last 9 years. DRP claimed to have reduced SO2 Emissions by 22.5% since 1997. Reports show that the company only complied with Peruvian environmental standards for seven days in January. It only complied with World Health Organization standards on one day in the same month.

In the last two years there has been an increase in Arsenic emissions. La Oroya Antigua levels measure 14 times more Arsenic than the average highly contaminated European city. Arsenic is a toxic substance and a carcinogen. Cadmium levels are just as alarming, at 25 times higher than levels recommended by the World Health Organization.

Movement for Health of La Oroya (MOSAO) and Technical Roundtable
Tels. / (51-1) 333-0152 /