Government Reports Positive Trends in La Oroya Blood Leads
Doe Run Peru credits collaboration, says more needs to be done.
St. Louis, MO (PRWEB via PR Web
Direct) March 22, 2005 -- Peruvian health officials have announced
indications of improvements in the blood lead levels of young children in La
Oroya as a result of a collaborative agreement between the government and Doe
Run Peru.
"There are encouraging indications that the steps that have
been taken since the agreement began are starting to yield results," Jorge
Albinagorta, a senior official with the Peruvian Ministry of Health, told a news
conference in La Oroya Monday.
The study, conducted last November and
December on nearly 800 children aged 6 and under from the La Oroya Antigua
neighborhood, found that 91 percent of the children could continue in an ongoing
holistic program of health education, improved nutrition, and environmental
measures such as street cleaning.
"The progress to
date is promising, but there is much more work ahead. Our job will be done only
when these issues have been addressed for all the children of La Oroya," said
Bruce Neil, president of Doe Run Peru.
In keeping
with international protocols, the remaining 9 percent of children found to be at
high risk for complications related to lead exposure will receive more
aggressive measures, Albinagorta said. Several of the children will be sent to
Lima for further medical and other developmental evaluations, while the rest
will attend schools and daycares in the surrounding communities, away from the
sources of lead exposure.
Albinagorta also noted that
previous environmental operating agreements between the government and the
companies operating the metallurgical complex did not prioritize health issues.
He welcomed the shift in emphasis of a new agreement being sought by Doe Run
Peru to better address health issues.
"The old PAMAs
didn’t take health issues into consideration so much; they were focused more on
environmental and investment issues that the companies have made an effort to
address," he said.
"We expect a great deal from the contributions that the
company continues to give and we hope to have the collaboration of our friends
in civil society," Albinagorta added.
Under a 2003 agreement with the
Ministry of Health, Doe Run Peru supports state health officials with efforts
including funding and helping carry out health awareness campaigns with
community groups and social workers to educate families on good hygiene and
nutrition techniques to combat lead exposure. In addition, the company supports
a local soup kitchen that provides a daily meal to La Oroya’s neediest children.
Since purchasing the 80-year-old metallurgical complex from the Peruvian
government in 1997, Doe Run Peru has spent more than $140 million on facilities,
health and environmental improvements. It has pledged to spend another $150
million during the next six years.
"Our job is about
more than just providing employment and contributing to the local economy," Doe
Run President Neil said. "We are serious about improving local health and the
environment and we will continue to work on this every day along with local
health officials and the community."
The Doe Run Company, along with its
subsidiaries, is a privately held natural resource company focused on
environmentally sound mineral and metals production, recycling and metals
fabrication. Based in St. Louis, the company and its subsidiaries serve as North
America’s largest integrated lead producer and third-largest total lead producer
worldwide, employing more than 4,000 people. The company and its employees are
committed to keeping its operations and communities clean and safe while
producing essential raw materials – lead, zinc, copper, gold and silver – that
are needed for everyday life. Doe Run and its subsidiaries have U.S. operations
in Missouri, Washington and Arizona, and South American operations in
Peru.
For more information visit http://www.doerun.com.
Contact:
Christi Dixon
(314) 469-3500
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/3/prweb221054.htm