health
US is ‘using Mexico as a garbage sink’ leading to ‘toxic crisis’, UN expert says
Marcos Orellana, a special rapporteur, found lax environmental standards and lack of oversight allowed pollution to accumulate
TL;DR
- A UN expert warns Mexico is experiencing a 'toxic crisis' due to pollution from imported waste and hazardous substances.
- Lax environmental standards and a lack of oversight in Mexico allow pollution to accumulate, with the US using the country as a 'garbage sink'.
- Contaminated locations, referred to as 'sacrifice zones,' lead to increased rates of diseases like cancer and medical events such as miscarriages.
- Factories, industrial pig farms, and mining spills are cited as sources of pollution affecting rivers and drinking water.
- Residents in areas like Monterrey suffer from respiratory illnesses and other health problems due to poor air quality.
- Mexican officials are acknowledging outdated regulatory standards and planning to strengthen them, including new monitoring systems.
- Suggestions include restricting hazardous waste imports and using the Mexico-US-Canada free trade agreement to enforce environmental standards.