Epidemiological Research in Environmental Health in Latin America - How to consider inequalities?

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In a context with high social inequity and poor distribution of wealth, several Latin American countries (LAC) based their economy on the excessive use of their natural resources. Chañaral (900 km north of Santiago, Chile) is an example of an extractivist model of mining, generating an artificial beach containing mine tailing around the city. Our goal was to review the scientific evidence of the Chañaral Case, and to discuss options for analyzing other socio-environmental cases with impacts in public health in other LAC. METHODS: Several studies were made from 2006, combining different dimensions of the exposure and health in adults and children. Together, environmental and historical reports were reviewed. RESULTS:A dramatic decrease in the richness and diversity of species in the intertidal zones around the impacted area, and wind-driven transport of metal-rich particles towards the city of Chañaral were observed. In 2006, a higher risk of having levels of urinary nickel above the 4.1 μg/L reference value (OR = 2.5, 95%CI = 1.1- 5.8) was detected. Also, increased PM2.5 levels from mine tailings were associated with a reduction in Forced Vital Capacity (β −2.42 ml, 95%CI −4.7, −0.1) in schoolchildren living in the city. CONCLUSIONS:The metal-enriched dust transported from the tailings is a source of exposure to metals, they are excreted in the urine of persons and affect lung function. The lack of soil quality standards, permissive air standards, and the non-existence of urban planning for many years led to the settlement of large mine tailings close to population settlements. Civil organizations have had to educate themselves on metal exposures, generating lawsuits to generate mitigation plans. Today, when Chile is going through constitutional changes, it is essential to strengthening the discussion on environmental health management based the human rights perspective to guarantee the right to live in an equitable healthy environment. KEYWORDS: Chile, Chañaral Case, mine tailings, environmental injustice, metals, air pollution