Peruvian cardinal hails $150m lead poisoning settlement for 1,300 people as a ‘historic milestone’
Summary
A Peruvian cardinal praised a $150 million settlement for over 1,300 people who were poisoned as children by a smelter owned by a U.S. company. The settlement ends a nearly 20-year legal fight against Doe Run, a subsidiary of Renco Group, over toxic pollution in the Peruvian town of La Oroya.Key Facts
- Cardinal Pedro Barreto led the campaign against Doe Run for poisoning people in La Oroya, Peru.
- Doe Run Company, owned by U.S. billionaire Ira Rennert’s Renco Group, agreed to pay $150 million.
- The settlement covers 1,373 Peruvians harmed by lead and other toxic emissions as children.
- The lawsuit began in 2007 and was based in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Researchers found very high blood lead levels in children from La Oroya, linked to the smelter pollution.
- Doe Run did not admit to any wrongdoing in the settlement agreement.
- The town of La Oroya was once named one of the world’s most polluted places by an environmental group.
- The settlement is seen as a rare case of an American company being held responsible for harm caused in another country.
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