The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has ordered Peru to pay damages to residents of La Oroya, an Andean mining town, for violations of their right to a healthy environment. The court ruling is binding and comes as a result of Peru's failure to regulate and supervise the La Oroya Metallurgical Complex, which has caused significant air, water, and soil pollution. The court determined that the exposure to lead, cadmium, arsenic, and sulfur dioxide posed a significant risk to at least 80 local residents, who did not receive adequate medical attention from the government. As a result, Peru has been ordered to pay at least $30,000 each to the affected residents, with the most vulnerable receiving $50,000. Additionally, $65,000 each should be paid to the legal beneficiaries of two victims who died from diseases caused by the pollution. Peru's government and mining ministry have not yet responded to the court's ruling [ddf1298b].
La Oroya, located in the Andes Mountains, is considered one of the most polluted places on earth due to the heavy metal smelter that has been operating there for almost a century. The smelter complex, known as the La Oroya Metallurgical Complex, processes copper, zinc, lead, gold, selenium, and other minerals, and has had a significant impact on the environment, contaminating the air, water, and soil. In 2013, it was reported that a high percentage of children in La Oroya had elevated levels of lead in their blood. The smelting complex went bankrupt in 2009 but re-opened last year under new management, Metalurgica Business Peru SAC, which promised to comply with environmental standards. The court has also ordered the government to assess the current state of contamination in La Oroya and provide cash and free medical aid to the victims [80fadb32] [6d1a9a34].