The danger is real for its populations, which are continuously exposed to water and air contamination. However, detailed epidemiological studies are still lacking. The remediation of the Los Frailes spill is above all a regional problem of national dimensions, and should be solved at this level. There are major lessons to be learnt from this dreadful event that should have obvious effects on all the institutions involved in it. The company, local and regional authorities, and national administration have the public duty to introduce major adjustments, within a coordinated regional framework, to the systems and procedures that failed to prevent, and react adequately to, the accident.
Environmental pollution is a serious issue with immediate and long-term consequences.
This could have a real effect on the ground, helping to overcome regional and national inertia and facilitating definite improvements. Recent Mine Spill Adds to Contamination of Southern Spain. A Citizen's Guide to Phytoremediation. Phytoremediation of TCE in Groundwater using Populus. Cossa, D., Elbaz-Poulichet, F., 1999.