Energy
Health concerns mount in Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale region
Local communities and indigenous groups in Argentina's Vaca Muerta region report severe health issues linked to fracking and toxic waste dumps.
Key points
- Residents in the Vaca Muerta shale region report rising rates of health problems including cancers and miscarriages.
- The area is vital to Argentina's economy, with fuel exports accounting for 9.1% of merchandise exports in 2025, according to World Bank figures.
- Prosecutors have raised alarms over unmanaged toxic waste sites threatening local populations.
Communities living near the Vaca Muerta shale operations in Argentine Patagonia are reporting severe health complications, according to The Guardian. Residents in areas such as Calle Ciega 10 and towns like Añelo have attributed illnesses including cancers, congenital abnormalities, and miscarriages to local hydrocarbon extraction.
The expansion of Vaca Muerta
Vaca Muerta spans over 11,500 square miles across four provinces and holds massive reserves of shale gas and oil. Since extraction began in 2012, the region has become central to Argentina's economic recovery under President Javier Milei. World Bank data shows that fuel exports represented 9.1% of Argentina's merchandise exports in 2025. According to research by the NGO OpSur cited by The Guardian, state-controlled energy company YPF controls a third of unconventional gas and 39% of unconventional oil operations, with foreign firms such as Chevron, TotalEnergies, and Shell managing the rest.
Environmental and health risks
Fracking involves injecting high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals into rock formations. Scientific studies have linked the technique to ecological harm and human health issues. Indigenous Mapuche communities in the region have similarly reported respiratory disorders and skin ailments.
Beyond extraction sites, the region faces scrutiny over waste management. Prosecutors are investigating the Comarsa waste management company for storing over 300,000 cubic metres of toxic waste containing heavy metals near populated areas. Prosecutor Maximiliano Breide Obeid stated in The Guardian report, "We believe there is an immediate danger to people’s health." Medical reports cited in the investigation indicate that exposure to the waste can cause severe conditions, including neurological, respiratory, and kidney problems.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
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Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
