Mining Runoff and Public Health

Activity: Bringing heavy metals researchers back to Loreto for public education sessions

Contribution planned: Scheduling, publicity, and logistical support

An early project of The Ocean Foundation in the Loreto area was to commission from the Instituto Politecnico Nacional (National Polytechnic Institute) a heavy metals study of the coastline of the entire Municipality of Loreto, including three of the five islands within the Marine Park of Loreto. The peer-reviewed journal Marine Pollution Bulletin has published the study, titled “A multi-elemental approach to assess potential contamination in tourist beaches: The case of Loreto Bay (Marine Protected Area) NW Mexico.” Our foundation has arranged for its chief author to present the researchers’ findings, conclusions and unanswered questions to the general community of Loreto in Spanish.

Among the most important findings is that (even though the Municipality of Loreto does not have mining operations today) Loreto is still at risk, given the movement of heavy metals from the mining sludge found on the beaches of Santa Rosalia, 92 miles north of Loreto. This information may affect how leaders and decision makers in our community address protecting our supply of seafood and our aquatic activities for local youth and elderly, as well as future operations of mining adjacent to the boundaries of the Municipality of Loreto and within the Municipality of Loreto. Also of interest to many is whether there is a link between the unknowns of the health of seafood and high incidence of cancer in residents of Loreto. The role of the researchers is to answer to the numerous audiences in Loreto (local and state media included) so that each economic sector can decide for itself what next steps, if any, should be taken.