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Patagonia's toxic legacy: Illnesses surge near shale operations
15 Oct
Summary
- Families report cancer, miscarriages, and pollution near Vaca Muerta wells.
- Fracking, a technique used since 2012, is linked to health issues.
- Indigenous communities and low-income residents are disproportionately affected.
In Argentina's Vaca Muerta, a significant shale operation area, residents of Allen report a surge in severe health problems, including cancers, congenital abnormalities, miscarriages, and stillbirths. These issues began appearing approximately 13 years ago, coinciding with the drilling of a gas and oil well near their homes on Calle Ciega 10. This technique, known as fracking, was introduced in 2012 and has since expanded across four provinces, vital for Argentina's economy and export market.
Low-income families and Indigenous Mapuche communities, whose ancestral lands are often sites for these wells, are disproportionately affected. They describe frequent miscarriages, respiratory and skin ailments, and nervous system disorders. Some residents suspect contaminated water sources due to incidents at the wells. Despite efforts to file complaints, legal recourse has been unsuccessful for many families dealing with these critical health concerns.
Beyond well operations, toxic waste disposal is another major concern in Añelo, the region's operational hub. A significant lawsuit, the Comarsa case, involves allegations of improper storage of over 300,000 cubic meters of toxic waste. This waste, containing heavy metals like barium and mercury, is believed to contaminate soil, water, and air, posing an immediate and future danger to nearby residents, yet new housing developments are being built close to the dump sites.
