Colombia: Environmental Health Issues

Abstract

Colombia is a megadiverse country seeking to improve its national economy and to protect its environment. Geography, politics, and poverty, among others, make environmental health a complex issue in this country. Most inhabitants rely on the Magdalena River watershed as a source of water, but the river is polluted with domestic sewage, industrial discharges, and sediments from deforestation, impacting health quality. Illicit drug crops and colonization are deteriorating the forest and threatening biodiversity. Current guidelines for drinking water are more flexible than they have been in the past, and air quality monitoring programs have revealed hot spots in major cities such as Bogotá, Medellín, and Bucaramanga, as well as in industrial zones such as Yumbo. Pesticides, some banned, are misused in agriculture, leading to human exposure. Gold mining areas are sources of mercury, and children living in cities such as Cartagena are exposed to lead. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and emerging pollutants such as perfluorinated compounds have been found in samples from industrialized areas. Although extensive environmental research is needed, it is noticeable that some environmental agencies (Corporaciones Autónomas) have advanced in several key areas. However, the future will depend on giving value to natural resources to decrease poverty and improve environmental health, forest-biodiversity protection, pollution control, and environmental education, among others.