Publication Date

Spring 2025

Abstract

This independent research study examines the prolonged and multifaceted environmental contamination in Arica, Chile, and its potential impact on public health. Although Arica has historically been a key port city, its industrial role has also made it a site of significant environmental injustice. This study poses the following research question: What are the sources and perceived impacts of environmental contamination in Arica, and how have local communities responded to institutional silence and the lack of accountability? Using a descriptive and qualitative methodology, fieldwork was conducted over several weeks in the city. In-depth interviews were carried out with residents, community leaders, neighborhood councils, environmental organizations, and academics. In addition, historical public health reports, studies conducted by local universities, journalistic articles, and photographic records of contaminated areas were analyzed. Despite institutional resistance and the refusal of health authorities to address the issue, community testimonies provided valuable evidence of exposure to pollutants and their health consequences. Among the main sources of contamination identified are: the dumping of toxic waste by foreign companies (primarily from Sweden and the U.S), the historical use of the Arica–La Paz railway for transporting heavy metals, aerial pesticide fumigation, the discharge of untreated wastewater into the sea by Aguas del Altiplano, marine pollution caused by fishing industries such as Golden Omega, and the systematic dumping of waste into rivers by residents and agricultural companies. These watercourses, which run through residential areas, have been transformed into receptacles for household waste, industrial chemicals, and animal processing byproducts. The findings reveal persistent environmental damage, exacerbated by institutional negligence and a lack of transparency. While conclusive scientific studies linking contamination to specific diseases are lacking, community testimonies point to a widespread perception of serious health impacts, including cancer, respiratory illnesses, and mental health disorders. This social experience of illness—still lacking full scientific validation—reflects a neglected public health crisis. The absence of effective state responses exposes a serious failure in environmental governance and underscores the urgent need for justice and reparations. The research affirms the value of community knowledge as a form of resistance and highlights the crucial role of local organization in confronting a systematically obscured emergency.

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences

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