Greta Jimenez
The Matanza River, also known as the Riachuelo River, is a river in Argentina that runs through Buenos Aires and its surrounding metropolitan area. The river has been heavily polluted for years by industrial waste, sewage, and everyday garbage. In 2008, Argentina's Supreme Court ordered the river's cleanup, and since then, there have been efforts to improve the situation. However, despite these efforts, the river remains highly polluted, and the surrounding area continues to suffer from environmental and health issues. This article will explore the current state of the Riachuelo Basin, the impacts of the pollution, and the ongoing work to address this critical issue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| River Basin Hosts | 23% of Buenos Aires residents (9.16% of Argentina's population) |
| River Basin Extent | 64 kilometres |
| Number of Municipalities | 14 |
| Population | 4.5 million to 7 million |
| Pollution Sources | Industrial waste, sewage, everyday garbage, animal residue, household waste, toxins from factories, arsenic, cadmium, blood, internal organs, skin, food and beverage industry waste, paper mills, textile industry waste, metallurgy, urban waste, pesticides |
| Health Problems | Skin rashes, gastrointestinal issues, respiratory problems, vomiting, headaches, pregnancy complications, birth defects, cancer |
| Children's Health Problems | Lead in bloodstreams, respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses |
| Wildlife | Carnivorous turtles, coypu (river rats), herons, native birds |
| River Oxygen Levels | 0 to 1 mg of oxygen per litre |
| Status of Clean-up Efforts | Ongoing; $1.2 billion project financed by the World Bank; 40% of agreed housing relocations completed; sewage system installation in progress |
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What You'll Learn
The Matanza-Riachuelo Basin is one of the world's most polluted places
The Matanza River, also known as the Riachuelo River, is a river in Argentina that runs through Buenos Aires and its surrounding metropolitan area. The Matanza-Riachuelo Basin is considered one of the ten most polluted places in the world, with very high levels of lead. The river basin has been heavily polluted for years by industrial waste, sewage, and everyday garbage. An average of 82,000 cubic meters of industrial waste enters the river daily, with about a third of the pollution coming from chemical, pharmaceutical, or petrochemical plants along the river.
The shoreline of the river is not only contaminated with household and industrial garbage but also larger objects like abandoned vehicles and boats. In addition, 80% of the pollution of the river is due to the dumping or discharge of human waste. The basin hosts 23% of the residents of metropolitan Buenos Aires, or 9.16% of the country's total population. Its waters extend for 64 kilometres through the capital city's 14 municipalities.
The population living in areas surrounding the river basin has been exposed to historically rooted injustices affecting the environment, health, and the right to live with dignity, which constitutes structural violence and environmental racism. A 2013 report found that 25% of children living in the basin had lead in their bloodstream, and many residents experienced respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Despite the Argentine Supreme Court ordering the remediation of the site in 2008, progress has been slow, and the river remains heavily polluted. In 2024, the court terminated its monitoring of the pollution suit, deeming its intervention successful in driving structural reforms. The Matanza-Riachuelo Basin Authority (ACUMAR), a state agency responsible for the physical cleanup operation since 2006, will continue its work without court monitoring. While ACUMAR has made substantial progress in cleaning up garbage and capping new pollution sources, the heavy metals beneath the surface pose a larger threat and are more challenging to remove.
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Pollution sources: industrial waste, sewage, and everyday garbage
The Matanza River, also known as the Riachuelo River, is a river in Argentina that runs through Buenos Aires and its surrounding metropolitan area. The Matanza basin is considered the most polluted river in Latin America and one of the ten most polluted places globally, with very high levels of lead.
The river's pollution is attributed to various sources, including industrial waste, sewage, and everyday garbage. Here is a detailed look at these pollution sources:
Industrial Waste
The Riachuelo River Basin has been contaminated by industrial activities for decades, if not centuries. An average of 82,000 cubic meters of industrial waste enters the river daily. Chemical, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical plants, tanneries, and factories along the river contribute about a third of the pollution. Riversides leather tanneries, petroleum plants, and various factories have negatively impacted water quality. These industries have discharged toxic chemicals and waste into the river, leading to severe environmental and health issues in the surrounding areas.
Sewage
The Riachuelo River also receives significant pollution from sewage. Despite the strong industrial presence in the basin area, it is estimated that 80% of the river's pollution comes from dumping or discharging human waste. The river has served as a dumping ground for residents of Buenos Aires, with a population of over 15 million. The high volume of sewage has led to health issues, especially among children living in the basin, who have been found with lead in their bloodstream and respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses.
Everyday Garbage
In addition to industrial waste and sewage, the river is also polluted by everyday garbage. The shoreline is contaminated with household garbage and larger objects like abandoned vehicles and boats. The accumulation of garbage along the riverbanks further contributes to the environmental degradation and unsanitary conditions in the surrounding areas.
The Argentine government has faced criticism and legal action for its handling of the Riachuelo River Basin pollution. In 2008, the country's Supreme Court ordered the remediation of the site, and efforts have been made to clean up the river, but progress has been slow, and the river remains heavily polluted. The basin's pollution continues to impact the health and well-being of the surrounding communities, and it will take further sustained efforts to address this environmental crisis fully.
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Health impacts on residents
The Matanza-Riachuelo River Basin in Argentina is considered one of the ten most polluted places globally, with very high levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, zinc, and cadmium. The river receives large amounts of industrial waste, sewage, and everyday garbage from the nearby factories and residents of Buenos Aires, affecting the health of the surrounding population.
The health impacts on the residents of the Riachuelo Basin are extensive and range from acute to chronic conditions. The toxic environment has led to various health problems, including skin rashes, headaches, breathing problems, vomiting, and pregnancy complications. The river's pollution has also been linked to increased child mortality and birth defects. A study by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) found elevated levels of lead and chrome in children's blood and urine, leading to health issues such as headaches, stomach pains, behavioural problems, anaemia, impaired brain development, decreased bone and muscle growth, and damage to the nervous system, kidneys, and hearing.
The basin's pollution has resulted in a putrid stench and contaminated water and air, causing respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses in 25% of children living in the area. The water in the basin has dangerously low oxygen levels, with measurements showing between 0 and 1 mg of oxygen per litre, which is far below the 5-7 mg/l required for a healthy river ecosystem and fish survival. The lack of oxygen is due to the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms, further endangering the health of residents who rely on the river for their daily needs.
The residents of Villa Inflamable, located in the basin area, face unique challenges due to the proximity to petrochemical tanker trucks and the unpaved lanes of their community. They are exposed to toxic dust on dry days and raw sewage flooding on rainy days, exacerbating respiratory and skin problems. The community members know of numerous cases of cancer and pregnancy complications, highlighting the severe health impacts of living in such a polluted environment.
While some efforts have been made to improve the situation, including the relocation of inhabitants and the shutdown of non-compliant factories, the river remains highly contaminated. The clean-up process has been slow, and residents fear that without continued court oversight, the necessary changes may not occur. The basin's pollution has resulted in environmental racism and historically-rooted injustices, with residents' rights to a healthy environment and life with dignity being violated.
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Clean-up efforts and challenges
The Matanza River, also known as the Riachuelo River, is considered one of the most polluted rivers in Latin America and the world. It is contaminated with industrial waste, sewage, and everyday garbage, including larger objects like abandoned vehicles and boats. The river basin hosts 23% of the residents of metropolitan Buenos Aires, or 9.16% of Argentina's total population, many of whom suffer from health issues due to the polluted river.
In 2004, Argentina received $250 million from the Inter-America Development Bank to clean up the river basin, but most of the money was used elsewhere in the country, with only $1 million going towards the clean-up effort. In 2008, Argentina's Supreme Court issued a historic ruling demanding the cleanup of the river and making restoration the state's responsibility. This led to the creation of the Matanza-Riachuelo Basin Authority (ACUMAR), a state agency tasked with managing the clean-up operation.
ACUMAR has made substantial progress in cleaning up garbage and capping sources of new pollution. One part of the clean-up is a $450-million hydraulic tunnel being excavated to flush wastewater into the River Plate, where the waters of the Matanza-Riachuelo Basin empty. Additionally, families living in the area will now be able to flush their waste to a treatment plant, reducing the amount of raw sewage that enters the river.
However, progress has been slow, and the river remains heavily polluted. One challenge is that the pollution is deeply rooted in historical injustices and structural violence, with local companies and global multinationals acting with impunity. Another challenge is the presence of heavy metals beneath the surface, which are not easy to remove. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has recently ended its oversight of the pollution suit, leading to concerns from campaigners that the ruling will worsen the region's health crises and send the message that environmental damage is not a priority.
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Environmental racism and social injustices
The Matanza-Riachuelo River Basin in Argentina is one of the most polluted places in the world, with very high levels of lead and other toxic chemicals. The basin hosts 23% of the residents of metropolitan Buenos Aires, or 9.16% of the country's total population. The river's pollution has had evident negative impacts on the health of many residents, constituting environmental racism and social injustices.
In 2008, the Argentine Supreme Court ordered the remediation of the highly polluted site, but the expected impacts of the judgment have not been achieved. During a site visit to Villa Inflamable in 2022, it was observed that the neighborhood still exists in a segregated social space, where household location, gender, and class determine health outcomes and life expectancy. The population living in areas surrounding the river basin are exposed to historically-rooted injustices affecting the environment, health, and the right to life with dignity, which constitutes structural violence and environmental racism.
The river's pollution is due in part to the dumping of toxic chemicals by tanneries and the discharge of human waste. Despite some efforts to improve the river's condition, including the construction of a $450-million hydraulic tunnel to flush wastewater into the River Plate, the river remains a source of health problems and urban blight for its adjoining neighborhoods.
The Court has held multiple public hearings since 2008 to trigger political action, leading to the creation of the Authority of the Matanza-Riachuelo River Basin (ACUMAR) to manage activities and give civil society organizations and community members a voice in proposed solutions. However, implementation has been unsatisfactory, with only a fraction of residents relocated and more people moving into the neighborhood. Many residents fight for a life of dignity and the reconstruction of their neighborhoods, refusing to leave despite the environmental and health risks.
The Matanza-Riachuelo River Basin case highlights the interconnection between social equity and care for the earth, with disadvantaged groups facing greater exposure to environmental hazards. It underscores the need for effective policies and actions to address environmental injustices and improve the quality of life for those impacted by pollution and its health consequences.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Riachuelo Basin in Argentina is still polluted.
The cleanup project has been ongoing since 2008 when Argentina's Supreme Court ordered the remediation of the site. While there have been improvements, such as the installation of sewage pipes and the shutdown of abusive factories, the basin is still heavily polluted.
The main sources of pollution in the Riachuelo Basin are industrial waste, sewage, and everyday garbage. The basin receives large amounts of industrial waste from factories, especially tanneries, and an estimated 4.5 million people in the area dump their sewage directly into the river.
The pollution has had severe health impacts on the residents living near the Riachuelo Basin, including respiratory problems, skin rashes, and gastrointestinal issues. A high percentage of children in the area have dangerous levels of lead in their blood, and many people live in substandard housing conditions that exacerbate these health problems.
In addition to the cleanup efforts, there have been legal actions and advocacy initiatives to address the pollution and its impacts. Residents have sued the government and private companies, seeking compensation and an end to contamination activities. There have also been calls for stronger advocacy, technical solutions, and sustainable options to address the pollution without compromising economic activities.
