NEW DEADLY SINS: POLLUTION IN ARGENTINE

ENVIRONMENT

Argentina suffers from various types of pollution. Diesel buses contribute to poor air quality, but private vehicles and taxis contribute also. Factories are another source. Just as motor vehicles cause urban air pollution, they also produce most of its noise pollution. Buses and motorcycles are the worst offenders.

Cities also produce huge amounts of garbage. In 2001 for example, Buenos Aires generated more than 400,000 tons of solid waste per month. All of this garbage has to be dealt with and the city government is seeking to create a landfill near the city of Olavarria, 400km to the southwest.

SOIL CONSERVATION AND DEFORESTATION

Centuries of livestock activities, both grazing and trampling have caused serious erosion problems. Even today, some national parks have been unable to eliminate grazing within their boundaries. The biggest problems though, are in the northern subtropical forests. In Misiones Province, commercial farms have cut down much of the rainforest. In Jujuy and Salta Provinces, the cloud forest on the edge of the Andes is also in danger from commercial interests.