Mercury, Mining, and Empire: The Human and Ecological Cost of Colonial Silver Mining in the Andes

Preface

r ect o r unningfo ot ix In many ways, this book is as much about colonial mining as it is about contemporary Huancavelica, Peru, and Potosí, Bolivia, where mercury and silver respectively were produced throughout the colonial era, and where the effects of the colonial amalgamation economy continue to reverberate. Today, the residents of both cities shoulder these tragic and toxic legacies, which were central to the rise of the modern global economy . While more mercury was released into the environment in colonial Potosí than Huancavelica (approximately 45,000 metric tons versus 17,000 tons), sampling results suggest that the soils of Huancavelica are more contaminated. This may partially be a result of the steeper valley formation in Huancavelica, its smaller size, and the more concentrated placement of the smelters. The situation today is compounded by the prevalence of mud brick homes in Huancavelica that are constructed with contaminated materials, and underscores the fact that Huancavelica is the capital of Peru’s poorest department. Indeed, such is the contamination that there is off-gassing of elemental mercury vapors from the interior walls of many homes there. While Potosí is more prosperous, better integrated into Bolivia, and has a greater percentage of homes built from brick, the mining of a variety of metals and its accompanying contamination continue there to this day. Despite these differences, many of the residents of both cities continue to breathe toxic air, ingest mercurylaced dust, and are otherwise exposed to the myriad risks of mercury intoxication. Both cities must contend with their poisonous pasts and the health risks that they present, most notably to women and children. Solutions t pr ef a ce x verso r unningfo ot will be complex and, given the scale of the problem, will need to be developed and funded at local, national, and international levels. For those interested in learning more, or helping, please visit the website of the Environmental Health Council (www.ehcouncil.org), which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing these issues in Huancavelica and Potosí. x pr ef a ce ...