ZINC, COPPER FOUND IN BLOOD, WATER SAMPLES
By Pia Lee-Brago
The Manila Chronicle, Vol. 33, No. 1508, April 16, 1996

THE DEPARMENT of Health (DOH) yesterday said chemical analysis has revealed the presence of heavy metals in blood samples from residents and wells along the Boac River in Marinduque which was swamped by mine tailings two weeks ago.

The findings contradict claims by Marcopper Mining Corp. that the sludge that flowed into the Boac River did not contain harmful elements.

Testing made by the Ateneo de Manila's Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC), showed that blood samples from the six residents and three other people hospitalized for food poisoning contained traces of such heavy metals as zinc and copper.