The Ministry of Environment and Energy announced on March 12 that it has reported a case of lead contamination to the Prosecutor’s Office after inspections found levels up to 150 times higher than permitted by regulations in the industrial waste management chain of Guayaquil.
This issue is significant because high concentrations of lead pose risks to both human health and the environment. The ministry said that technical inspections and laboratory analyses revealed that sludge produced by Oletnat S.A., located north of Guayaquil, contained lead concentrations far above legal limits.
According to the ministry, samples were collected from the final stage of industrial wastewater treatment and analyzed by LABCESTTA, an accredited laboratory. The results, documented in Report No. LDMA-002-2026, showed a concentration of 747.64 milligrams of lead per kilogram of sludge, while environmental standards allow only up to 5 milligrams per kilogram. The ministry said this level represents a significant environmental risk due to the harmful effects of heavy metals like lead on ecosystems and human health.
The contaminated sludge is transported by Urvaseo and disposed at Las Iguanas Sanitary Landfill under the jurisdiction of Guayaquil’s municipal government through Circular EP. The Organic Environmental Code holds generators, transporters, and disposal entities responsible for comprehensive waste management. In addition, Article 252 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code defines soil contamination as a crime, while Article 264 of the Constitution assigns exclusive responsibility for waste management to municipal governments.
Inspections took place between December 2024 and January 2026 as recorded in Technical Reports MAATE-UCA-DZ5-JO-2024-1380 and MAE-UCA-DZ5-JO-2026-0552. Following institutional procedures, Memorandum No. MAE-DZ5-2026-1289-ME dated February 25 sent the case file to Legal Advisory for administrative sanctions.
“El Ministerio de Ambiente y Energía ratifica que todas las acciones de control, muestreo, análisis y seguimiento se ejecutan bajo procedimientos certificados, con respaldo de laboratorios acreditados y conforme a estándares técnicos nacionales, garantizando rigor, transparencia y debido proceso en la gestión ambiental,” said the Ministry.
