**Environmental Concerns at Zinc Processing Facility: Investigation Underway**
In a recent inspection at a zinc processing facility in San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, inspectors from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa) discovered approximately 30,000 tons of hazardous material exposed to open air and direct soil contact. The agency has given the company a deadline of 15 days, starting January 24, to relocate these bags and submit a sampling plan to assess soil contamination. Should contamination be confirmed, the company will need to develop and implement an environmental remediation plan.
Mariana Boy, head of Profepa, emphasized the urgent need for the company to prevent the hazardous material from contacting natural soil and relocate it to a regulated area. The inspection, initiated following an investigation by a media collaboration, had already highlighted alarming levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic detected within a 2.5 km radius of the plant. These metals were found as a part of the zinc recovery process from recycled hazardous waste sourced from the United States and Mexico.
During the inspection, Profepa temporarily shut down 15 unauthorized pieces of equipment and identified visible piles of coal and slag as potential particulate pollution sources. Earlier, the state environmental authority had symbolically closed some of the company’s furnaces, which were already inactive due to scheduled maintenance.
The Profepa team is currently reviewing extensive documentation provided by the company, including operational logs and three years’ worth of emission reports from their chimneys. Further sampling may be conducted if necessary. The main focus of the investigation is determining a causal link between the facility’s operations and the detected pollution.
Zinc Nacional has stated that the material in question is finished zinc oxide product, a claim yet to be independently verified. In a response, the company expressed they’ve begun relocating materials and submitted a detailed work plan to Profepa.
Local residents and parents from nearby schools have mobilized to demand an inquiry into the source of heavy metals and potential health impacts. Antonio Hernández of Pronatura Noreste stated that if health and environmental impacts are confirmed, there should be penalties leading to both short and medium-term remediation strategies.
This is not the first time Zinc Nacional has faced scrutiny. A 2020 inspection by Profepa found 49 irregularities, and while the company discredited most findings, 14 remained unresolved, leading to a fine in 2024. Compliance verification for those penalties is pending and could result in additional sanctions.
**Secondary Article: Global Attention on Mexico as a Major Hazardous Waste Recipient**
In a related environmental concern, Mexico, alongside Canada, has been identified as a major recipient of hazardous waste from the United States. This highlights a broader issue of international waste management and its environmental impact. Recent reports indicate that despite regulations, the handling of such waste poses significant risks to local communities and ecosystems. Mexico’s role as a key player in this transboundary movement of hazardous materials emphasizes the importance of stringent regulation and monitoring to mitigate potential health hazards. As global environmental standards tighten, such cross-border issues are likely to draw greater scrutiny and necessitate cooperative international solutions.