Peruvian cardinal says $150 million lead poisoning settlement is a “historic milestone” for more than 1,000 victims

A Peruvian Catholic cardinal has hailed an out-of-court settlement worth $150 million intended for more than 1,000 people who were allegedly poisoned by lead linked to a toxic smelter in Peru, calling the deal a “historic milestone.” Cardinal Pedro Barreto, who has led an almost 20-year public effort raising allegations about contamination from operations in the Andes, said the agreement provides a rare moment of closure for families affected since childhood.

The settlement, reported at $150 million (about £111 million), is described as covering 1,300 people. The Guardian reported that Barreto received a barrage of death threats and harassment during his long-running campaign challenging the firm behind the smelter, which he has said caused widespread lead exposure. Barreto’s public statements have connected the alleged poisoning to environmental and health harms that have stretched across generations in the affected communities.

Barreto’s remarks came as the case reaches a financial resolution without a full courtroom verdict, according to the report. The agreement is characterized as an out-of-court settlement, a form of legal compromise often used to resolve claims while avoiding years of litigation. The report states that the settlement involves alleged victims who were poisoned “as children,” emphasizing the long-term health and developmental consequences that can follow exposure to heavy metals.

The underlying allegations center on lead contamination associated with a smelting operation in Peru, which Barreto has targeted in his campaign. The report describes the company as a U.S. mining firm, underscoring that the dispute has had cross-border corporate and accountability implications. In Barreto’s account, the harms were not limited to environmental damage but extended into public health, affecting community life and the ability of families to plan for safety and schooling for children.

The report also notes the personal toll of Barreto’s campaign, including the death threats and harassment he said he received. Those accounts highlight the security risks that can accompany high-profile advocacy and institutional pressure, particularly when allegations involve powerful companies and long-standing local grievances. Barreto’s willingness to continue pursuing the matter publicly has made him a prominent figure in Peru’s disputes over accountability for industrial pollution.

Details about how the $150 million will be distributed and how claims will be administered were not included in the reporting summarized by The Guardian. As with other settlements, the effectiveness of the agreement is likely to depend on subsequent steps to confirm eligibility, process payouts, and establish timelines for payment to affected families and communities.