Kids in La Oroya

The embattled Doe Run lead smelting facility in Peru may finally be getting a break. We met with Dr. Juan Carlos Huyhua, the president of Doe Run Peru, in New York last week to get an update on the situation.

Three years ago, the plant was shut down by a mixture of politics and litigation. So work installing new pollution mitigating technologies at the plant stopped, cleanup was halted, and the people of La Oroya were left without work and a legacy of pollution. But not without income – we learned that the refinery has continued to pay salaries for 4,000 employees, even while the plant has been closed.  That good citizenship may now be paying off.

We’ve been told that the government of Peru is working to reach a consensus to approve a plan for Doe Run Peru within 60 days, by April 12. If everything goes well, the company expects the plant will reopen, appropriately, on May 1- labor day.

“It is a very positive message for the country that finally, working together – the state, the company and community – it is possible to solve an issue that is dated more than 90 years,” Dr. Huyhua told me.

After three years of no movement, he interprets the government’s actions as a “vote of trust” for his company.  And he is ready to go forward. Dr. Huyhua told us that Doe Run Peru plans to invest up to $200 million more in environmental projects within 30 months. The company has also continued to support the public health programs in La Oroya during the plant’s closure.

“We believe in the business,” he told me. “We consider that an investment because La Oroya needs technical people and we need to keep them.” He reiterated that it all depends now on the government. “Everyone has to work together to get results and what’s better for the country.  And that’s to reopen the plant.”

And we do agree. While corporations like Doe Run Peru are often vilified, and many are guilty of unspeakable pollution, they can be moved to make a difference because they have the resources to do so and the incentive.

This is the only way forward for the people of La Oroya, because the alternative is a stalemate in which nothing happens.  No one wins if the smelter is left shut down and contaminated. But finally installing state- of-the-art pollution management technology, and restoring livelihoods for thousands in the Andes is a goal worth reaching for.  And only then can the cleanup of legacy contamination around the town begin as well.

With the company and the government of Peru now on the same path, all this might happen.  It is the only practical solution to a massive problem.

Related:  Surprise – Corporations NOT the worst pollution problems

Well, Mr. Agoramoorthy, I am glad to say that some the solutions you point out in your piece are already taking place. I know because we are involved. Blacksmith Institute has been cleaning up toxic sites in India for a decade now, working in partnership with the government and local communities.  In fact, the example you mentioned in Gujarat State – where worms were used to eat up the toxins in soil – was a Blacksmith project that we are indeed working to replicate.

This year, our work plan for India includes identifying polluted communities, starting more remediation, and raising funds – three things you mentioned.  In Tamil Nadu, working with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, we plan to assess more lead battery recycling sites, work with the industry to improve recycling practices, and develop projects to address lead contamination. In Hyderabad we are presenting a workshop on remediation methods.

In the bigger picture, we are also assisting the government at the state and national levels to develop and implement a sustainable structure to deal with ongoing toxic pollution. And we are working on identifying and adding more information about toxic sites in India to our global database of polluted sites. This inventory will guide us in our cleanup.

So to answer your question, yes we think India’s “pollution nightmare” can be tackled. India is a big country. It will take time and we have to set priorities.  So we are concentrating our efforts first on the worst polluted sites where people are most at risk.  Then site by toxic site, we will begin to erase pollution from India’s memory.

Ghana's Agbogbloshie e-wasteland

See examples of legacy polluted “orphaned” sites.

Very often, these sites are simply forgotten. Or they are caught in a legal quagmire as different parties argue over who is responsible for the cleanup. In some cases, the original polluters are unknown or untraceable.  In other cases they are bankrupt or defunct and are unable to pay for cleanup. Sometimes, a large number of operators contributed to the pollution, making liability for cleanup nearly impossible to enforce.

In the meantime, the contamination left behind continues to poison everyone who lives close by. This is legacy pollution and the sites affected are “orphaned” – left on their own, abandoned. While the act of polluting may have stopped at these sites, the pollution and the poisoning remain.

Blacksmith just received a $700,000 grant from the World Bank to tackle this problem so we can start taking care of these “orphans.”  Sometimes, what is needed is less confrontation and more cleanup.  We don’t care who the polluter is. The past is over.  We are looking to a cleaner future for these sites and a better legacy to leave behind.

Related Event:  ”Sodom and Gomorrah E-Wasteland” Jan. 19, 2012, 6 pm.  FREE.  RSVP to geoffrey@blacksmithinstitute.org. Hear what life is like in Ghana’s Agbogbloshie market, one of the largest e-waste dumpsites in the world.  Find out what is being done there and at other e-wastelands.

The point they are missing is that even though segments of the industry, especially those connected to large corporations, may be operating responsibly to limit toxic pollution, there are enough polluting tanneries to cause a real and serious health threat to about 1.8 million people, and a black eye to the industry as a whole.

These are mainly small-scale operations (see my previous post – Surprise – Corporations Not the Worst Pollution Problems) that operate informally without much regulation. And since they usually do not have a voice or representation in unions and other leather industry groups or associations, their polluting actions sometimes fly under the radar.

So we would like to take this opportunity to invite the leather industry to work with us to solve the problem.  We know many tanneries are well run, but not all.  Help us reach out, clean up and save lives.

Here is a portion of our response:

…The Union’s primary assertion was that tanneries use non-toxic trivalent chromium in the tanning process, not toxic hexavalent chromium. Blacksmith Institute is fully aware and acknowledges this point, but it does not address the problem at hand.

Trivalent chromium is used in the tanning process to make leather more durable. Solid and liquid waste containing this non-toxic form of chromium is often discarded near tanning facilities. Unfortunately for those living near such waste, trivalent chromium easily oxidizes to become carcinogenic hexavalent chromium upon disposal.

In solid waste, this conversion requires just heat and oxygen. In liquid waste, the conversion takes place in the presence of other minerals. Hexavalent chromium is highly soluble in water and quickly contaminates drinking water supplies, causing widespread illness. The sites in Blacksmith’s database include poorly managed tanneries, abandoned chromium supplies manufacturers, and legacy waste dumps of chromium, all with credible soil and water sampling showing elevated levels of hexavalent chromium in pathways to human exposure.

Kids in La Oroya

Of course large corporations are associated with pollution, like the well-documented case of the Renco Group and their Doe Run refinery, blamed for not doing enough to deal with the big lead pollution problem at their smelter in La Oroya, Peru.

But if you look at the data we’ve been collecting from thousands of hotspots we’ve assessed as part of our global inventory of polluted sites, you will see that there are just as many smaller polluting sites.  And in terms of public health, poorly regulated small-scale operations like artisanal mining and backyard metal recycling have the greatest impact globally.

Most large corporations, thanks to the efforts of tireless advocates, tend to behave as they work at managing pollution (and their image) in what is essentially a very polluting industry.

When Renco bought the previously state-run smelter in 1997, they took over one of the most toxic enterprises.  Over ten years, they have spent as much as $30 million on pollution mitigation.  They have put in water treatment, tailings management, and other controls, and were in the process of replacing the primary smelter with lower polluting and lower sulfur technologies. [Read an update of Doe Run/La Oroya's problems in Crain's New York]

Frankly, the main hope for La Oroya is if Renco/Doe Run Peru is given the chance to finish the job and complete the installation of new equipment.

They’ve been shut down by politics, the weak economy and also litigation.  The town’s livelihood has been adversely affected because the plant is not operating but in the long term, if the plant is to reopen, new equipment must be installed.

Regardless of news reports, the company has shown a lot of good faith. And for things to change, people need to work together.

With a new government in place in Peru, I hope common sense will prevail and Renco/Doe Run Peru will be able to install new equipment and finally continue the cleanup of La Oroya.

[See the Top Ten List of the 2011 World's Worst Toxic Pollution Problems report, released by Blacksmith Institute and Green Cross Switzerland at www.worstpolluted.org]

Think you know about pollution?  Read on:

Top Ten Things You Might Not Know About Pollution

1) Pollution is one of the biggest global killers, affecting over 100 million people.

It is comparable in population and risk to human health to problems like malaria and HIV.

2) Pollution is one global problem that can be solved in our lifetime

Life-threatening pollution has already been eliminated in much of the developed world through initiatives like the U.S.’s Superfund. The technology and know-how to clean up toxic pollution already exists. All that’s needed is resources and commitment.

3) There is a finite number of polluted sites in the world

While the number of polluted hotspots may increase, it is a finite figure. Currently, Blacksmith Institute’s database of polluted sites lists over 2000 of the world’s worst polluted places. Blacksmith is working to prioritize these sites for cleanup targeting the communities with the most at-risk populations.

4) Pollution solutions are relatively low-cost

The cost to save a human life through the removal of hazardous pollution on Blacksmith projects can be as little as $42. $20,000 is enough to start a project that saves lives.

5) Children are most susceptible to Pollution

While children only make up 10% of the world’s population, over 40% of the global burden of disease falls on them. More than three million children under age five die annually from environmental factors.

6) Pollution is mainly caused by small-scale informal operations rather than large multi-national companies

However, demand for consumer goods from high-income countries still drive pollution activities in low-income countries.

7) Pollution does not stop even when the source of the pollution is removed

For example when polluting factories are closed, legacy pollution remains. If it is not removed, legacy pollution continues to sicken and kill.

8 ) Pollution can vastly lower life expectancy

In some of the world’s worst polluted places life expectancy can be as low as as 45 years because of lung, throat and thyroid cancers.

9) Death is not the only end result

Pollution causes chronic illness, neurological damage and a range of diseases that might not kill but might incapacitate a person or result in irreversible damage. For instance, the presence of lead in children lowers I.Q. by an estimated 4-7 points for each increase of 10 μg/dL.

10) Pollution affects everyone

While pollution affects the immediate population the most, its effects are felt far and wide because of the globalized economy. In addition, some pollutants like mercury travels and drops into rivers and seas worldwide, poisoning the seafood supply.

Read my earlier post:  What is Pollution?

A big thank you to Blacksmith board member Ken Rivlin and Allen & Overy for hosting the event.

RSVP by Oct. 19 to geoffrey@blacksmithinstitute.org

See you there.

Blacksmith Institute Pollution Talks

In my last post, I wrote about the Brown Agenda vs. the Green Agenda. Pollution is part of the Brown Agenda.  I bet you haven’t heard a lot about that either.

Talking about "The Brown Agenda: Toxic Waste and the Environment" at the American Australian Association, Sept. 13, 2011, New York City.

I give talks about pollution throughout the year because real discussion about the pollution is hard to come by. People are constantly surprised at the extent of the problem.  So I’ve decided to summarize my key points here to keep conversation going.

So, what is pollution?

Pollution is the introduction of substances that contaminate and poison the environment. Pollution can come from chemical waste dumped into rivers, factories spewing toxins into the air, scavengers burning e-waste to extract valuable components, industrial accidents, and many other sources.

Pollution – life-threatening toxic pollution – is one of the biggest and most pressing global problems. It affects over 100,000,000 people.  The health impacts from pollution exceeds issues like HIV.

Yet, pollution is one of the most underreported and underfunded global issues.

Pollution is especially prevalent in developing economies, where rapid industrialization and lack of regulations have resulted in unchecked toxic pollution.

Pollution is a death sentence in poor countries, where poisoned communities cannot afford to clean up toxic pollution, cannot afford to move, and cannot afford to demand change.  Even if the cause of pollution, say a factory, is closed down, the contamination often remains. This is called legacy pollution – pollution that continues to poison even through the source is gone.

Pollution is invisible in many countries, where it is so much a part of daily life.

• In Nigeria, no one realized that lead pollution was the cause of hundreds of child deaths.  Parents were bringing lead-filled ore back to their homes for processing. The problem was not uncovered until doctors found almost no children in some villages on their immunization visits.
• In Tanzania, a factory was spewing toxic waste into the environment because no one noticed that the treatment plant was not turned on.
• When the wind blows in Gorlovka, Ukraine, poison spreads unnoticed. The lethal substance has been leaking from rotting containers at an abandoned chemical plant located close to a town of 500,000 people.  Moreover, with 30 metric tons of explosive TNT stored nearby, the danger of an accident producing a toxic cloud that could kill 50% of the town’s residents in a few minutes is very real.

Pollution is the root cases of many diseases that kill and disable.  In some of the world’s worst polluted places, babies are born with birth defects, children have lost 30 to 40 IQ points, and life expectancy may be as low as 45 years because of cancers and other diseases.

Pollution is global. Blacksmith has assessed and identified over 3,000 polluted hotspots across 80 countries, including about 200 sites in Africa and 600 in Asia. While pollution extracts the greatest toll on the people living in contaminated communities, the effects of pollution extend far beyond its source. The global market place loses valuable contributions from poisoned, broken economies.  And in many cases, toxic pollution travels and spreads.

Pollution is a global problem that can be solved. We know there is a solution because life-threatening toxic pollution has been eliminated in most developed countries.  We have the technology and know-how to remove pollutants, and we have prevented pollution with strict regulations. So while pollution reduces the standard of living and makes people sick in this country, the instances of extreme, life-threatening toxic pollution are rare.  So rare that they made a movie  - Erin Brockovich – out of the last high profile incident in the U.S. 

Pollution is a cheap problem to solve. $20,000 is enough to start a project that saves lives.

So now that you know, help us spread the word about pollution. Talk about pollution. I certainly will.

To put it simply, the brown agenda is about pollution.  It is about toxic waste contaminating the environment and poisoning people.  It is about rapid, loosely regulated industrialization and the legacy of toxic waste left behind, even from factories, mines and other facilities that have been shut down because of excessive pollution.

While the green agenda talks about choice – use less, recycle more – the brown agenda, for those directly affected, is about a lack of options.  Poor communities poisoned by toxic pollution have no where to go, no one to turn to. They cannot afford to move.  They cannot afford to clean up the pollution.  They cannot afford to get treatment.

This sense of helplessness is all too common in many of the world’s worst polluted places, where families live with a life-sentence, just waiting for the clock to run out.

So my point?  Don’t forget the brown agenda while you pursue the green.  The brown agenda is not as pleasant to talk about, not as TV-friendly, and might not affect you directly…now.  But its effects are far-reaching.

This Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011, I will be talking about “The Brown Agenda: Toxic Waste and the Environment” at an event organized by the American Australian Association.  If you are in New York City, register to join us.

He should know. For 30 years, Dr. Sengupta worked at the Indian government’s Central Pollution Control Board.  Now, as Blacksmith’s technical advisor in India, Dr. Sengupta is helping us with our pollution cleanup efforts in the country.

I am reproducing Sarita’s post below.  Sarita met Dr. Sengupta while in India doing research on nonprofits.  Sarita is a Blacksmith consultant and supporter.  Thanks, Sarita.

Tackling India’s Growing Toxic Waste

Ever wonder what happened to that old computer you junked or that dead car battery? Chances are they were transported thousands of miles to a developing country where poor people make a living from extracting lead and other metals from discarded items. Recycling e-waste might be economically productive but exacts a huge environmental and health toll when toxins and heavy metals are dumped improperly, often right in the same communities as the workers. The result is millions plagued with disease, disability and death.

I recently became involved with the Blacksmith Institute, a nonprofit that is removing poisons from contaminated playgrounds, schools, homes and factories as well as large river systems and entire communities in the developing world. Blacksmith focuses on pollution that is acute and geographically confined as opposed to say, carbon emissions. The effects of this type of pollution are generally immediately felt and related to identifiable causes like pesticide runoff. They can usually be addressed at local or national levels.

During a trip to India last month, I met with Blacksmith’s national technical advisor, Dr. B. Sengupta. India has hundreds of thousands of poor people engaged in recycling e-waste and lead batteries. Add to that the numbers engaged in dyeing fabric or tanning leather or working in small smelters. In the US strict government regulation and monitoring would prevent a business from dumping toxins improperly. But in India, said Dr. Sengupta, anti-pollution laws exist mainly on paper. Instead of a few mega corporations as found here, India has over five million small and mid-sized industries, making monitoring virtually impossible.

According to Dr. Sengupta, India produces over eight million tons of toxic waste every year. The Indian government in the last 25 years has built 28 facilities for the proper transport, storage and disposal of toxic waste. These facilities however have the capacity to only handle one-half of the total.

The result is a four million ton problem that only promises to get worse with industrialization and population growth.

The Indian government to its credit is trying to address the problem. The Ministry of Environment & Forests has been allocated a significant amount in the current Indian budget to remediate polluted sites and the World Bank has stepped in with additional monies. Along with resources, there is strong expertise in India regarding pollution. However no complex remediation projects have yet been implemented and there is a dearth of state-of-the-art technical expertise and trained personnel to do so.

Enter Blacksmith Institute. The organization brings the best scientific practices from around the world and the latest and most cost-effective technologies to each project. It has a roster of senior experts with environmental health and engineering experience to address specific toxins and develop the appropriate remediation plan. The Ministry has invited Blacksmith to assist in site identification and the development of detailed remediation plans. It is a case of what I call ‘optimal collaboration’ between developed world expertise advancing the agenda of a developing government committed to resolving its own problems.

Dr. Sengupta, who retired after 30 years of executive positions at the Central Pollution Control Board (akin to our EPA), is optimistic about India’s future. The good news here, he says, is that toxic pollution can be cleaned up and stopped through regulation, community education and proven alternative and modern technologies. He is willing to battle killer heat, indifferent bureaucrats and strenuous travel to continue his lifelong quest of making India’s environment safer and healthier. Just don’t get him started on India’s sewage problem.