Worrying pollution in Peru: heavy metals in Lake Junín pose a 100% cancer risk – Noticias Ambientales

Report on Heavy Metal Contamination in the Lake Junín Basin, Peru

Executive Summary

A recent scientific study published in Science of the Total Environment reveals extreme heavy metal contamination in the soils surrounding Lake Junín in the Peruvian highlands. The findings indicate that 99% of the studied area presents “very high” to “ultra high” levels of pollution, primarily from arsenic, lead, and cadmium. This environmental crisis poses a direct and severe threat to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). The research establishes a 100% carcinogenic risk for the adult population and critical exposure levels for children, demanding urgent institutional action.

Analysis of Contamination and Public Health Risks

Key Findings of the Study

The research provides a comprehensive assessment of the environmental damage through an analysis of 211 soil samples. The results highlight a critical failure to protect human health and the environment, directly challenging the objectives of SDG 3.

• Pollutants Identified: The study evaluated 14 heavy metals, metalloids, and trace elements, with arsenic, lead, and cadmium identified as the primary contaminants.
• Severity of Pollution: 99% of the area exhibits pollution levels far exceeding acceptable ecological and health thresholds.
• Carcinogenic Risk: The cumulative carcinogenic risk for the adult population is calculated at 100%, representing an inadmissible public health emergency.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

The contamination levels present a direct and immediate danger to the approximately 50,000 residents of the Lake Junín area. The presence of carcinogenic heavy metals in the soil and water systems undermines the fundamental right to a healthy life and environment.

Impact on Water, Food Systems, and Biodiversity

Threats to SDG 6 (Clean Water) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

The pollution of Lake Junín, Peru’s second-largest lake, extends to the Mantaro River basin, compromising water and food security for a much larger population. This contamination cascade directly obstructs progress on key SDGs.

1. Water Contamination: The lake’s waters feed the Mantaro River, which provides irrigation for agricultural valleys downstream. This exposes an estimated 1.3 million people to contaminated water resources, in direct opposition to the goals of SDG 6.
2. Food Chain Contamination: Heavy metals enter the food chain through a process of bioaccumulation. Livestock consume contaminated forage, introducing toxins into meat and dairy products, thereby threatening food safety and undermining SDG 2.

Degradation of Ecosystems: A Challenge to SDG 14 and SDG 15

The Lake Junín basin is part of the Junín National Reserve, an emblematic ecosystem now functioning as a “sink of metals and metalloids.” The pollution levels, exceeding ecological thresholds by more than 100 times, cause severe environmental degradation.

• Life on Land (SDG 15): The contamination of grazing soils directly harms terrestrial ecosystems and the animals that depend on them.
• Life Below Water (SDG 14): The accumulation of heavy metals in the lake’s water and sediments poses a grave threat to aquatic life and the overall health of the water body.

Historical Context and a Call for Institutional Response

Root Causes and Responsible Production (SDG 12)

The source of the pollution is identified as historical environmental liabilities from nearly a century of abandoned mining operations, compounded by over 300 years of mining tradition in the region. This legacy highlights a systemic failure in achieving SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by not managing industrial waste and its long-term consequences.

Innovative Methodology and the Need for Action (SDG 9 & SDG 16)

The study employed an innovative methodology utilizing a machine learning model, demonstrating an advancement in environmental monitoring aligned with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). However, this innovation must be met with decisive governance.

Experts have validated the findings and urge Peruvian authorities to take the study seriously. This serves as a call to action for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), emphasizing the need for government intervention to protect the well-being of its population and environment from historical and ongoing industrial pollution.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article directly addresses this goal by highlighting the severe health risks faced by the local population due to heavy metal pollution. It explicitly states a “100% carcinogenic risk” for adults and “critical exposure in children,” linking environmental contamination directly to human health outcomes.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This goal is central to the article, which focuses on the extreme pollution of Lake Junín and the Mantaro River. The contamination by heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium severely compromises the quality of this major water source, affecting not only the local ecosystem but also the water supply for 1.3 million people downstream.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article connects the pollution to historical mining activities, described as “environmental liabilities of abandoned mines.” This points to unsustainable production patterns and the failure to manage hazardous waste, which is a core concern of SDG 12, particularly regarding the lifecycle of chemicals and waste.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The pollution occurs in and around Lake Junín, an “emblematic ecosystem” and part of the Junín National Reserve. The contamination of soil and water degrades this vital habitat, threatening its biodiversity and ecological functions, which is a direct concern of SDG 15.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article’s emphasis on the “inadmissible” carcinogenic risk from arsenic, lead, and cadmium in the soil and water of the Lake Junín basin directly relates to this target.
• Target 6.3: “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials…” The article describes how the lake has become a “sink of metals and metalloids” from mining, leading to extreme pollution that far exceeds acceptable thresholds, making this target highly relevant.
• Target 12.4: “By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.” The pollution’s origin from “environmental liabilities of abandoned mines” highlights a failure to meet this target, as hazardous waste from mining was not managed properly, leading to long-term environmental and health consequences.
• Target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…” The severe contamination of Lake Junín, a national reserve, demonstrates a direct threat to the conservation and health of this critical freshwater ecosystem, making its restoration a priority under this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Concentration of heavy metals in soil and water: The article provides specific quantitative data that can be used as indicators. It mentions that “99% of the area studied presents levels of pollution from ‘very high’ to ‘ultra high'” and that concentrations of arsenic, lead, and cadmium “exceed ecological thresholds by more than 100 times.” These measurements are direct indicators for tracking pollution levels (Targets 6.3, 12.4, 15.1).
• Health risk assessment: The statement that “the carcinogenic risk is 100% for the adult population” is a powerful indicator of the health impacts of pollution. This metric directly measures the human cost of environmental contamination and can be used to track progress towards reducing illnesses (Target 3.9).
• Extent of contaminated area: The study analyzed 211 soil samples around the lake, finding widespread contamination. The percentage of land and water bodies affected by pollution serves as a spatial indicator to measure the scope of the problem and the effectiveness of remediation efforts (Targets 6.3, 15.1).
• Bioaccumulation in the food chain: The article notes that heavy metals enter the food chain as “animals around the lake consume contaminated forage.” Measuring the levels of heavy metals in local agricultural products, livestock, and fish would be an implied indicator of food safety and the extent of ecosystem contamination (Targets 3.9, 12.4).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: noticiasambientales.com