Maximiliano nació sin brazos y se cree que la deformación genética fue causada por un basurero de cenizas con metales cercano a su casa. Su madre, Anajai Calcano Pallano, tiene que bañarlo en un arrollo cercano pues no tiene agua corriente en su pobre vivienda de las afueras de Samena, en la corta noreste de República Dominicana. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

The dump site at the port near the ocean. On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. Charles Trainor Jr / The Miami Herald

The site where the rock ash was dumped was as high as the wall in the photograph. On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Maribel Andujar Medina with her son Israel, he was born with part of his intestine outside his skin, a birth defect possibly caused by exposue to rock ash dumped near his home. On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AEC, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Rock ash and flowers at the Port of Arroyo Basril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominique Republic. Rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINO0R JR / The Miami Herald

Human rights lawyer Robert Vance talks with Rosa Audujar Medina. She is part of a lawsuit filed in US courts suing a US firm for dumping rock ash on a beach near her home. She is currently pregnant and had a miscarriage earlier possibly caused by the exposure to the rock ash. On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Anajai Calcano Pallano holds her son Maximiliano, he was born with no arms, possibly a birth defects caused the dumping of rock ash near their home. - On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Medicine for Anajai Calcano Pallano's son Maximiliano, he was born without arms. A birth defect possibly caused by the dumping of the rock ash near their home. - On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AEC, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Rosa Maria Audujar, 8 months pregnant, earlier she had a miscarriage possibly caused by exposure to the rock ash dumped on a beach near her home. She is standing with a girl from her village (no name) - On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AEC, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Young men swim in the waters near the Port Arroyo, some locals fear rock ash dump at this site has containimated the water making it unsafe to drink or swim in. On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Maximiliano holds his two sons, (LtoR), Maximiliano and Leonardo. His son Maximiliano was born with no arms, possible birth defect caused by the dumping of rock ash in the area. - On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Anajai Calcano Pallano holds her son Maximiliano as she prepares a meal on the outdoor cooking pit at their home. Maximiliano was born with no arms, possible birth defect caused by the dumping of rock ash near his home. - On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the - Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR

Anajai Calcano Pallano teaches her son Maximiliano to eat with his feet, he was born with no arms, a possible defect caused by the dumping of the rock ash On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald

Anajai Calano Pallano gives her son Maximiliano a bath in the river near their home. Maximiliano was born with no arms, the birth defect is suspected to have been caused by the rock ash dumped near their home. The father, Maximiliano, washes the older son Leonardo, there is no running water in their home. - On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. Charles Trainor Jr / The Miami Herald

Anajai Calcano Pallano holds her son Maximiliano, he was born without arms. A birth defect possibly caused by the dumping of the rock ash near their home. - On the Port of Arroyo Barril, outside Samena, on the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, rock ash was dumped by a U.S. company, AES Corp, contaminating the water and air supply of the surrounding villages. In the years that followed its effect appears to have caused serious birth defects and skin problems and other medical conditions. Human rights lawyer from the U.S. are filing a lawsuit of behalf of the alleged victims affected in the villages. CHARLES TRAINOR JR / The Miami Herald