Polution, Poverty: The Dirty Secrets of Buenos Aires

Below is one of the most contaminated rivers in the world. 80% of the pollution is caused by industrial waste (ie. chemical, pharmaceutical and petrochemical units). The neighborhood most effected by this is La Boca as well as the surrounding areas. La Boca was predominately inhabited by Italian immigrants and then became one of Argentina's biggest slums. Due to gentrification the slums got pushed to the otherside of the river (like most do) and La Boca is now known as Buenos Aires most picturesque barrios.

About 4,500 of the residents live in a part of the river valley that has become known as Villa Inflamable, close by a major Shell refinery and other petro-chemical plants. It got its name because if you drop a match, the ground is said to ignite. A study by the Avellaneda municipality and the national government found that 50 % of the children there had lead in their blood, while many also had chrome, toluene and benzene in their urine.

The city of Buenos Aires has tried to make some improvements to the pollution in the area, but since the nearly 3 million people who live around the area represent Argentina's lowest class I don't foresee much happening.




(the dirty river)



(tourist street)