Many tribes Amazon region suffer contaminated water mining operations & oil exploitation led increases cancer, abortion, dermatitis, fungal infection, headaches & nausea. Drinking, bathing & fishing levels toxins higher safety limits US Environmental Protection Agency. Unlined waste pits lots pollution in Oriente region Ecuador. Toxic contents pits leeched rivers contaminate larger ecosystem toxins downstream Peru.
No other options obtain water locals depend drinking and poison themselves. Childhood leukaemia 4 times higher; children few months old died leukaemia. Achuar people live thousands years rainforest Peru, allege company contaminated territory more 30 years oil drilling. Water high concentration hydrocarbons heavy metals i.e. lead, cadmium, mercury & arsenic cause serious physical & mental problems. Achuar people pollution destroy fragile ecosystem kill fish & wildlife contaminate water damage health. Survey 2008 cadmium levels blood more 98% exceed safe levels. 66% children levels lead blood exceeds max. safe amount.
Water related diseases:
- Dysentery-infectious disease intestine symptoms diarrhoea (contains blood), sickness & cramp.
- Malaria-caused parasite via bites mosquitoes symptoms fever, headache & vomiting appear 10-15 days after. Not treated life threatening disrupts vital organs.
- Bilharzias-caused parasitic worms into blood kidney failure.
- Trachoma-caused parasites contaminated water lead blindness if untreated.
