Mexico authorities order factory cleanup after Guardian toxic waste investigation | Mexico

Mexican environmental organizers say they have discovered 30,000 tons of incorrectly stored materials with “dangerous properties” in a Mexican factory yard that recycle toxic waste shipped from the United States.

The authorities ordered “urgent measures” to introduce the materials in the appropriate storage as part of the inspection operations they take in response to investigation From the guardian and Quinto Elemento LabWhich raised questions about pollution about the factory, located in the Monterrey Metro.

The stories, published on January 14 and 15, included an analysis of the pictures of Google Earth that showed what it seems to be thousands of white bags often used to store large quantities of industrial powders that accumulate on many acres of vacant land inside the factory site.

After publishing the articles, the organizers of the Federal Federal Agency responsible for environmental and enforcement inspection, known in short, PROFEPA, began the investigation and spent seven days at the Zinc Nacional Factory, which recycles the dangerous waste from the steel industry to recover zinc. It ordered the closure of 15 pieces of equipment that had no appropriate permission.

The authorities said that they had found incorrectly stored materials – in some cases in broken bags and leakage – in the company’s yard in the open air and in a direct contact with the Earth. The agency gave the company for 15 days to find the materials in the right storage.

“The first thing is that they have to prevent her from communicating with natural soil and they must transfer it to an area that is compatible with the regulations,” said Mariana Boy in an interview about the preliminary results of the inspection. It was carried out in January.

The Guardian newspaper and Queeno Eldo Lab, a Mexican investigative journalism unit, have cooperated with the toxinist Martin Soto Jiminies, who conducted samples in homes and neighboring schools and found high levels of bullets, cadmium and arsenic in soil and dust samples that were taken within 2 km of the factory – including Inside some homes and schools.

The boy said that her agency was trying to determine whether there was pollution from the factory that affects society.

Boy said that if necessary, inspectors can return to the factory to implement samples.

“We will be very accurate in our inspections to get enough information and ensure access to environmental justice in our country,” Boy said in a press statement.

In a press release also, Zinc Nacional said he was cooperating with federal agency officials, and they also visited the state, employment and environment agencies in the state, as well as local officials from Saint Nicholas de Los Jarza, the municipality that is located.

The statement said: “We have cooperated with them all and we repeated that we are fully prepared to address any notes identified as part of this process,” the statement said. “Some of these inspection operations have led to requests for action that are treated. As agreed after these visits, the materials will be removed from the operating arenas and coverage to reduce the environmental footprint of our activities.”

According to PROFEPA, ZINC NACIONAL has told its inspectors that the contents of thousands of bags in that courtyard are the final product of the company: zinc oxide.

Nacional zinc imports an electric arc oven dust, also known as steel dust, from the United States. Secondary result of steel recycling, which is dangerous waste and contains high levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic. These are toxic minerals that can cause health problems ranging from brain damage to children to cancer. At its factory in the Monterrey region, the company recycles solid dust for zinc.

Bruce Lanverk, an international expert in the health effects of bullets and professor at Simon Fraser University, said that to understand any possible risks posed by the factory, an independent test will be needed.

“Did the officials experience 30,000 tons of materials stored incorrectly? I hope so.” “Did they conducted a wide sample of soil and dust in nearby societies and measuring heavy metals? These steps are necessary to assess the risks of the population.”