Title: Letter to the Editor: Botnia Fray Bentos and the environment of Uruguay River basin. The reports of EcoMetrix-World Bank

Authors: Elias Jorge Matta

Addresses: Instituto de Tecnologia Celulosica (ITC), Facultad de Ingenieria Quimica (FIQ), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL), Santiago del Estero 2654, 3000 Santa Fe, Republica Argentina

Abstract: The pollution load caused by Botnia Fray Bentos S.A., a Mega Kraft Mills with ECF bleaching, is analysed on the basis of two reports of EcoMetrix at the request of the International Finance Corporation, World Bank. The first report evaluates the first six months of mill operations, from November 2007 to April 2008. The second report covers the 12 months of 2008. Regardless of the opinions expressed by EcoMetrix, from the numerical values shown in the reports it is clear that Botnia has discharged huge quantities of dangerous pollutants into the Uruguay River and into the atmosphere. This pollution load, according to the background known, will cause serious and irreversible damage to the flora, fauna and health of the inhabitants of the basin within a few years. Since the findings of EcoMetrix are in contradiction to the logical analysis of the same values that the consultant presents, a detailed discussion of the criteria and limits (standard) used in the reports is unavoidable.

Keywords: Kraft process; ECF-TCF bleaching; environment; pollution load; bioaccumulative compounds; Botnia Fray Bentos; standard; regulations; environmental pollution; Uruguay River; environmental health.

DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2009.028598

International Journal of Environment and Health, 2009 Vol.3 No.3, pp.310 - 322

Published online: 19 Sep 2009 *

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