Over 2,600 children and staff exposed to heavy metals in Peruvian schools, study finds

More than 2,600 students and staff in Peruvian schools are daily exposed to dangerous levels of heavy metals, a new study reveals. The Environmental Health Council (CSA) found that school grounds in historically mining regions, including Huancavelica, Lima, Áncash, Cajamarca, and Junín, have soil contaminated with arsenic, lead, and mercury that exceeds Peru's environmental quality standards.

The CSA's study, conducted from 2019 to 2025, focused on schools built on former mining sites, some of which processed cinnabar, the source of mercury. President Nicholas Robins emphasized that contamination was found adjacent to school properties, necessitating urgent evaluations and risk mitigation for students and personnel.

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These metals are difficult to eliminate, representing a long-term risk, especially for children and pregnant women, who are more vulnerable. Intoxication from these metals may not be immediately evident, as the effects can manifest after prolonged exposure.

Epidemiologist Enrique Ecos expressed grave concern over this exposure, noting the bioaccumulative nature of these metals and their severe impact on the nervous system, especially for children and pregnant women. He warned that effects might not be immediately apparent, posing a long-term threat due to the difficulty of eliminating these substances from the body.

The CSA also criticized the government's inaction, particularly in Áncash, where despite a state of emergency and court orders, no concrete measures have been taken to protect affected populations. This administrative failure is especially alarming in impoverished areas like Huancavelica, where a court in December 2023 mandated the government declare an emergency due to mercury, lead, and arsenic contamination following legal action by the CSA.

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In some cases, contamination was detected adjacent to school grounds, suggesting the need for additional evaluations and immediate action to reduce or mitigate the risk for students and staff.