SEVESO, ITALY DISASTER

By Erin Tubridy, Samantha Morrison, Luke Marrone, and Chris Hagen

WHAT HAPPENED

The Seveso disaster was an industrial accident that in a small chemical manufacturing plant in the Lombardy region of Italy.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Explosion occurred because chemical reactor had no safety casing A toxic cloud escaped into the atmosphere containing high concentrations of TCDD (2,4,5-trichlorophenol), a highly toxic form of dioxin it polluted a densely populated area, killing many animals The dioxin cloud affected a total of 11 communities in Seveso Italy.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
96% of dioxins originated from air emissions. Deposited onto soil, plant and water surfaces. Released in wastewater settle in bottom sediment or onto plants aquatic organisms ingest and deposit them they are also ingested by larger organisms = Biomagnification. Can be transported long distances. Very toxic to certain animals weaken immune responses and cause behavior changes in offspring. Break down very slowly "reservoir sources"

POLICY CHANGES

Soils were excavated and treated. Health effects were recognized as a consequence victims were compensated A long-term plan of health monitoring. Chloracne (see picture), and genetic impairments. Led to the European regulation for the prevention and control of heavy accidents involving toxic substances. (The Seveso Directive) Dioxins has been declining although they can never be reduced to zero.

WAYS THEY COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT

It could easily have been prevented had the chemical reactor been encapsulated by a safety casing. Additionally, the public and local authorities could have been forewarned about possible dangers.

Afterthought
THE MOST REMARKABLE FEATURE OF THE SEVESO ACCIDENT WAS THAT LOCAL AND REGIONAL AUTHORITIES HAD NO IDEA THE PLANT WAS A SOURCE OF RISK. THE FACTORY EXISTED FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND THE PUBLIC HAD NO IDEA OF THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ACCIDENT. THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY STILL OPERATES IN AN EXTREMELY COVERT MANNER. NO ONE FROM OUTSIDE THE INDUSTRY REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE FULL EXTENT OF WHAT IS BEING TESTED OR IF ANOTHER POSSIBLE SEVESO DISASTER MIGHT OCCUR.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
"Chemical Accidents (Seveso III) - Prevention, Preparedness and Response." Chemical Accidents (Seveso II). N.p., 22 Nov. 2012. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://ec.europa.eu/environment/seveso/index.htm>. Corliss, Mick. "The Story of the Poisoning of Seveso, Italy." The Story of the Poisoning of Seveso, Italy. N.p., 6 May 1999. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.getipm.com/articles/seveso-italy.htm>. Cruz, Gilbert. "Top 10 Environmental Disasters." Time. Time, 3 May 2010. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,19864 57_1986501_1986449,00.html>. Enzler, S. M. "Environmental Disasters." Environmental Disasters. N.p., Sept. 2006. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.lenntech.com/environmental-disasters.htm>.

McKinney, M.L., Schoch, R.M., Environmental Science: Systems and Solutions, Third Edition, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Sudbury Massachusetts 2003

THE END