Defend Children's Health in Peru

Last month Peru’s Environmental Ministry proposed lowering air quality standards in an attempt to encourage the sale of the beleaguered metal smelter in La Oroya.  

The move comes after a recent failed attempt to auction off the smelter; the lack of investors is believed to be due to Peru’s strict limits on airborne sulfur dioxide.

And so, the government’s newly proposed standard would increase by more than 12 times the limit for airborne concentrations of sulfur dioxide, and double the allowable amount of fine particulate matter.

Both substances are known to cause serious health problems, including lung problems and other illnesses, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.

The proposal not only ignores the State’s obligations to uphold conditions suitable for human life and health, but also clear scientific evidence.

“There is overwhelming scientific evidence to conclude that sulfur dioxide pollution poses a serious health risk, particularly when the contamination reaches high levels over short periods of time, something the proposal does not take into account,” explained AIDA Co-Director Anna Cederstav.

Upon hearing of the government’s proposal—which came conveniently just before the Holy Week holiday—our team sprung to action to prepare comments, and submitted them directly to the government.  

Together with our partners at APRODEH, we pointed out that reducing sulfur dioxide in the air would lead to longer life expectancy. We also highlighted flaws in the proposal’s public consultation process.

Above all, we wanted to make it clear that the State has an obligation—under the American Convention on Human Rights and other international treaties—to protect the rights to life and health of all the people of Peru.

Relaxing air quality standards to facilitate the sale of the complex and increase investment in the country would be a major setback for the protection of health and the environment in Peru.