According to the researcher Ángel Storniolo, readings obtained from the water respect World Health Organisation and Argentinian Food Code protocols. In statements to El Litoral (which recently has published whole-page open letters in favour of the Alumbrera Mining Company), he forgets to mention explicitly that his “investigation” was paid for by the Alumbrera Mining Company and that his “salary” was a result of the “agreement” between UNSE and the mining company.

Sources: Movida Ambiental blog and El Liberal newspaper

05/12/2010.

"EXPERT” PAID BY ALUMBRERA MINING COMPANY SAYS THAT THE DP2 CANAL WATER IS ALMOST MINERAL WATER

No one can believe report claims that researchers “took samples on any day and at any time” without the mining company knowing. And interestingly, the document does not mention the “confidentiality agreement” which they had to sign with the Alumbrera mining company.

In short, these “researchers” are of the variety that came out of the woodwork to refute Héctor Nieva’s thesis on the Vis-Vis River, or of the Dr. Stamboulian (FUNCEI – Foundation Centre of Infectology Studies) sort, who was contracted by the government of Catamarca (with $ from the mine) to state that the percentage of registered illnesses as a consequence of mining is “ZERO”. The data he provided was completely inadequate to publicly reassure that the mine is not contaminating. Nor did he mention where or how the complete results could be accessed, in order to understand more fully of what the study consisted.

Furthermore, there is no explanation as to how findings in the three previous studies carried out of high levels – exceeding existing regulations – of copper and sulphates, increases in salts, molybdenum, iron, magnesium, arsenic, boron, cadmium, mercury, lead, selenium and even potentially radioactive elements such as strontium, have now seemingly vanished.

The expert report produced by the Argentine National Gendarmerie (September 2000) concludes that the analysed samples have high content readings of copper and sulphates, exceeding the limits established by Law 24.051 for copper levels.

Nevertheless, Mr. Storniolo assures us that the DP2 canal (see photo below), carries clean water and that the neighbours say it smells of chlorine. Would he be willing to drink a few glasses of this water, which according to him, meet with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for drinking water?

Expert from UNSE states that the Alumbrera mining company does not contaminate.

According to the researcher Ángel Storniolo, readings obtained from the water respect World Health Organisation and Argentinian Food Code (CAA) protocols.

Studies carried out throughout 2010 by investigators from the Department of Geology and Geotechnics of the Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technologies - National University of Santiago del Estero (UNSE) - in the drainage system of the Alumbrera Mining company, reveal that the analysed water is not contaminated and that readings respect World Health Organisation and Argentinian Food Code protocols.

Ángel Storniolo, lecturer, researcher and UNSE graduate in Subterranean Biology, indicated: “The study was carried out between October 2009 and December 2010. Once a month samples were taken from the waste water of the filtering plant - from the canal - one location upstream from the mine’s waste, and two locations downstream.”

“The result of the analysis of major ions and dietary minerals,” he stated, “revealed that waste water readings from the Alumbrera Mining company are within the guidelines established by the WHO and the CAA for drinking water.”

With reference to normal indices, he explained: “Each element present in water or which can be dissolved in water has a maximum advised limit. For example, the WHO has established 10 micrograms per litre for arsenic (a poison), and the CAA has established  12 micrograms per litre until 2012, after which date it will change to 10 in accordance with the resolution of May 2007. In the case of the water analysed, 4 micrograms per litre was measured.”

He specified that “the fluorine is also in normal levels,” as are other elements like chromium and cobalt, which also pose health risks. Furthermore, he indicated that “contamination from bacteria, or potentially toxic major ions that could contaminate the canal water” was dismissed.

Storniolo explained that the study was carried out after the agreement was signed between UNSE, the National Universities of the Norte Grande (UNNGA) and the Alumbrera Mining Company, to control the drains located in the area of Ranchilla, in Tucumán.

The researcher made reference to the investigation process and some of its stages: “We spoke with the people that live here and it seems the type of water the mine releases is always consistent. They themselves point out that the water smells of chlorine.”

According to his explanation, the collecting of the sample was not programmed but rather “was taken on any day and at any time”, and then the company was notified so that they could also take their own sample.

“We try to be objective, basing ourselves on the scientific results to give our opinion, not on rumour. Many people comment on what the mine discharges in waste, despite the fact that many have never visited it,” said Ángel Storniolo, whilst explaining that the data processing was carried out at UNSE and later sent to an international laboratory.