A toxic blend of sewage, industrial waste and chemical runoff from multinational companies is wreaking havoc on Mexico’s Atoyac River, threatening public health in surrounding communities.
Alejandro Saldívar, Marta Montojo and Federica Bordaberry report for The Guardian.
In short:
- The Atoyac River, once a source of clean water, is now highly contaminated, with local residents reporting severe health issues, including elevated rates of chronic kidney disease and leukemia.
- Multinational corporations, including Volkswagen and BASF, discharge pollutants into the river, despite claiming compliance with environmental regulations.
- New EU regulations will soon require these corporations to meet stricter environmental standards, adding pressure to reduce their environmental impact in Mexico.
Key quote:
“Industries must keep their pollutants below certain levels, but those limits are absurdly high. Despite that, discharges are carried out into common drains, making it impossible to know who is responsible.”
— Rodolfo Omar Arellano-Aguilar, researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
Why this matters:
The Atoyac River in Mexico, once a lifeline for communities near Puebla, has turned into a symbol of industrial neglect, prompting calls for Mexico to enforce environmental protections on its industrial giants. Read more: The chemical industry may have killed a landmark EU chemical policy. Here’s what that means for the US.
