Social and Community Health Impacts of Mining in Olopa, Guatemala
Author ORCID Identifier
0009-0004-7256-8532
Abstract / Resumen / Resumo
This study examines the social and community health impacts of the Cantera los Manantiales antimony mine on Ch’orti’ Indigenous communities in Olopa, Guatemala. Mining operations, initiated without the consultation required under ILO Convention 169, have led to widespread resistance. Using participatory mapping and interviews across six communities, the study highlights discrepancies between the environmental impact assessment and community-reported impacts. Residents reported severe social divisions, economic hardships, and political corruption. The mine’s operations have exacerbated poverty and food insecurity, forcing communities into greater dependence on market economies rather than traditional subsistence practices. Social tensions and violence, including threats, murders, and criminalization of resistance leaders, mirror the historical violence experienced during Guatemala’s civil war and genocide. These interacting social, political, and economic conditions, combined with the environmental and human health impacts, have activated a syndemic, compounding health and social challenges that worsen the burden of disease. The study calls for systemic changes in extractive practices to protect communities from being disproportionately harmed for external economic gain.
Recommended Citation
Albritton, Meghan J.; Kolivras, Korine N.; and Krometis, Leigh-Anne
(2026)
"Social and Community Health Impacts of Mining in Olopa, Guatemala,"
Journal of Latin American Geography
25(1): 70-99.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/lag.2026.a992793
Available at:
https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/15/article/992793
