Environmental and Public Health Impacts of Mining Tailings in Chañaral, Chile: A Narrative Case-Based Review

Abstract

This narrative case-based review describes the environmental and public health impacts in Cha & ntilde;aral, a town in northern Chile affected by the accumulation of copper mining tailings for the past 80 years. The review included 34 scientific articles published between 1978 and 2025. The keywords used were «mining tailings» and «Cha & ntilde;aral», without year limits, and covering disciplines such as ecology, public health, environmental history, and territorial studies. The scientific evidence demonstrates the negative impacts on the ecosystem and the human population exposed to toxic metals and arsenic. Geomorphological and biogeochemical alterations have been found on the Cha & ntilde;aral coast, affecting marine biodiversity and water quality. In addition, epidemiological studies indicate exposure to toxic metals measured in street dust and urine, raising concerns on respiratory health in children and metabolic conditions in adults. According to the social sciences, the lack of environmental monitoring and human exposure data contributes to the high health risk perception in the population, posing the need to strengthen environmental monitoring, raise awareness on the risks of exposure to toxic metals, and promote mitigation and restoration strategies. These measures will contribute to sustainable conditions for the Cha & ntilde;aral community through the improvement of comprehensive public policies.