Environmentalists are hailing a Peruvian civil court order requiring the government to take steps to safeguard the health of residents affected by heavy metals emissions from a smelter in the Andean town of La Oroya, but the Health Ministry has appealed the ruling and the outcome is still in doubt. Last month’s ruling requires the Health Ministry and the General Office of Environmental Health (Digesa) to “design and implement a public health emergency strategy for the town of La Oroya, aimed specifically at recovery of the health of those affected, protection of vulnerable groups, preventive health measures and ensuring compliance and gathering of information about risks to which the population is exposed.” The case was filed in Dec. 2002 by six residents of La Oroya... [Log in to read more]