Peruvian children near mining operations show dramatically lower iq scores, heavy metal contamination study reveals

A groundbreaking study published in Forensic Science International has revealed alarming evidence that children living near Peru’s mining operations suffer significant cognitive impairment due to heavy metal exposure. The research, conducted in the historic mining district of Cerro de Pasco in Peru’s Andes Mountains, found that exposed children scored an average of 12.3 IQ points lower than their unexposed peers.

The study examined 81 children living near the contaminated mining area and compared them with 17 children from unaffected regions. Researchers discovered that exposed children had lead concentrations in their hair reaching 4.30 mg/kg—a staggering 43 times higher than the safe limit of 0.10 mg/kg established by Germany’s Micro Trace Laboratory. The children also showed elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, and manganese, all toxic heavy metals known to damage developing brains.

Cerro de Pasco has endured nearly 400 years of intensive mining for lead, zinc, and silver, dating back to Spanish colonial rule. Modern industrial mining has dramatically intensified contamination levels, exposing residents to severe health risks including cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The study’s findings demonstrate that mining pollution creates ongoing, cumulative health impacts rather than isolated exposure events.

Beyond lower IQ scores, affected children showed impaired verbal comprehension, reduced perceptive analysis abilities, and compromised memory function. These results underscore the urgent need for stricter environmental protections around mining operations, particularly in communities where children face chronic exposure to neurotoxic pollutants that can permanently affect their cognitive development and future opportunities.