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Peruvian villagers sick from toxic spill near copper mine

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Peruvian villagers sick from toxic spill near copper mine

AUGUST 4, 2012 BY  0 COMMENTS

Swiss company Xstrata one of mine owners


Antamina mine tailings pond, Peru (photo, wikipedia)

LIMA, PERU – The Peruvian environment ministry is expected to release medical results Saturday 4 August following a chemical spill in the north of the country Wednesday 25 July which sickened over 100 people, according to Peruvian daily El Comercio.

The spill occured after a pipeline carrying toxic copper concentrate from one of the country’s biggest mines, Antamina, burst open in the village of Santa Rosa, in Ancash province. The regional health office said Friday that 140 people were being treated for “irritative symptoms caused by the inhalation of toxins”. The company reported that 45 tons of the chemical had been spilled and that 3 tons had been cleaned up.

The majority of the Antamina mine, located at 4,300 meters above sea level, is owned by two foreign companies: 33.75 percent is owned by Swiss-based Xstrata and 33.75 percent by BHP Billiton, headquartered in Australia. It is the world’s eighth largest copper mine and third largest zinc mine.

Paula Dupraz is currently reporting from Peru for GenevaLunch

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