A group of asthma patients from Peru have sued the Southern Peru Copper Corporation. The patients allege that the company's activities have led to the large-scale pollution around the city of Ilo. They allege that "deadly pollution' resulting from the company's activities has caused loss of life, health and property. The patients said that the pollution could have been avoided if the company had installed preventive devices. The petitioners state that as a result of the untreated dumping done by the company, Ilo's coastline has been ruined, fish now contain toxic levels of heavy metals and the region's environment is severely degraded.