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The Anthropocene is an uneven phenomenon. Accelerated shifts in the functioning of the Earth System are mainly driven by the production and consumption of wealthy economies. Social, environmental and health costs of such industrialization, however, bear on low‐income communities inhabiting severely degraded territories by polluting activities (i.e., sacrifice zones). How global, national and local socio‐economic and governance processes have interacted in perpetuating socio‐environmental inequalities in these territories has been rarely explored. Here, we develop an historical quantitative approach integrating a novel chemostratigraphic record, data on policy making, and socio‐economic trends to evaluate the feedback relationship between environmental injustice and Anthropocene in sacrifice zones. We specifically outline a case study for the Puchuncaví valley ‐one of the most emblematic sacrifice zones from Chile‐. We verify an ever‐growing burden of heavy metals and metalloids over the past five decades paced by the staggering expansion of local industrial activities, which has ultimately been spurred by national and transnational market forces. Local poverty levels have declined concomitantly, but this path toward social equality is marginal as costs of pollution have grown through time. Indeed, national and international pollution control actions appear insufficient in mitigating the cumulative impact brought by highly toxic elements. Thus, our sub‐decadal reconstruction for pollution trends over the past 136 years from a sediment record, emerges as a science‐based tool for informing the discussion on Anthropocene governance. Furthermore, it helps to advance in the assessment of environmental inequality in societal models that prioritize economic growth to the detriment of socio‐environmental security. Plain Language Summary Costs of the sustained industrialization growth typically bear on low‐income communities (i.e., sacrifice zones). In this work, we designed a case study for the Puchuncaví sacrifice zone (Chile) to understand how socio‐economic and policymaking processes interact in perpetuating environmental inequality in these territories. Specifically, we integrate data obtained from a new sediment archive for historical pollution, socio‐economic trends and environmental policies to evaluate the relationship between environmental injustice and Anthropocene. We observe an ever‐growing load of heavy metals and metalloids over the past five decades paced by the staggering growth of local industrial activities, which has ultimately been spurred by national and transnational industrial and economic demands. Poverty levels in local communities declined concomitantly, but such reduction in social inequality is marginal and deceiving as effects of pollution have grown through time. Pollution control actions appear insufficient in mitigating cumulative and emergent impacts of highly toxic elements. Thus, our 136‐year reconstruction of the local pollution trajectory serves as a science‐based tool for informing the discussion on governance in the Anthropocene. Particularly, it helps to advance in the assessment of environmental inequality in societal models that prioritize economic growth to the detriment of the ecosystem and social security. Key Points Geochemical data provide a science‐based tool to inform the discussion on Anthropocene governance in severely degraded territories In our case study, socio‐environmental inequalities are linked to economic and governance processes operating from local to global scales Policies embracing local environmental rehabilitation are required as a just transition is not granted under a decarbonization scenario

Este artículo reflexiona sobre los roles de las mujeres en contextos de afectación socioambiental. El trabajo toma como caso de estudio el conflicto socioambiental que tiene lugar en QuinteroPuchuncaví (Chile) analizando las prácticas desplegadas por mujeres ante la afectación de sus cuerpos y territorios, vinculada con la operación del Complejo Industrial Ventanas (CIV). El trabajo inspirado en la ecología política, los feminismos y los ecofeminismos busca ahondar en la discusión sobre los protagonismos de las mujeres a propósito de tensiones en torno a los extractivismos. El análisis y los resultados se fundan principalmente sobre la información producida a partir de entrevistas biográfico-narrativas con activistas, vecinos y vecinas de la localidad desarrolladas entre 2021 y 2023. En los resultados se sugiere sobre cómo las mujeres despliegan prácticas micro y macro políticas donde los territorios cobran especial importancia. Además, se reflexiona sobre la emergencia de prácticas donde el reconocimiento de la ecodependencia articula diferentes formas de acción que friccionan y disputan procesos de mercantilización de la vida, poniendo en cuestión la idea de un mundo único.

The intake of trace elements (TEs) through the consumption of vegetables is a subject of great concern. This study intends to evaluate human health risks associated with consumption of vegetables grown near the Ventanas copper smelter (Valparaiso region, Central Chile). Experimental plots were established in the proximity of the smelter and in a control area. Leafy vegetables (lettuce, chard, and cabbage) and root vegetables (potato, carrot, and beetroot) were grown on the experimental plots. Daily intake of elements was estimated based on consumption habits. A hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated as a ratio between the daily intake and the reference dose that represents the maximum safe TE intake. Generally, concentrations of TEs in the edible tissues of vegetables were higher in the exposure area than in the control area. The most significant difference was for leafy vegetables, with arsenic (As) being the main TE of concern. Lettuce was also the vegetable of concern due to its relatively high consumption rate and a relatively high concentration of TEs in the plant tissue. In this study, we obtained an HQ value of ~ 0.6 for inorganic As considering vegetable consumption pathway, for the age group of 1–5 years old. Likewise, our previous study reported a similar HQ value of ~ 0.6 for inorganic As considering incidental soil and dust ingestion pathway, for the same age group. Importantly, HQ value surpasses 1.0 for inorganic As considering both exposure pathways. Thus, there is a health risk associated with soil As for inhabitants of Puchuncavi Valley.