The gap between environmental regulations and social reality: 26 2
The case of arsenic in the Lerma River
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51896/khwhcs56Keywords:
pollution, Lerma River, arsenic, regulationsAbstract
The Lerma River represents one of Mexico's most critical sustainability challenges, where chemical water degradation converges with high levels of social marginalization. This article analyzes the recent update of NOM-001-SEMARNAT-2021, which establishes stricter limits on permissible levels of contaminants such as arsenic, in light of the environmental and urban vulnerability of the population settled along the contamination route. Through a literature review, the study explores how the presence of contaminants in the water body affects populations with the least access to health services and clean drinking water. It concludes that, although environmental legislation has been reformed to meet international standards, the lack of technological infrastructure and oversight of environmental law enforcement in vulnerable municipalities perpetuates a cycle of environmental inequality. The study emphasizes that social development in the basin will not be possible without remediation strategies that prioritize water access for the most vulnerable sectors.
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