1. INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL DISASTERS IN NORTH ITALY:
CENGIO (LIGURIA) AND SEVESO (LOMBARDIA)
ACNA
ACNA, an acronym for National and Affinity Dyestuffs, has been an
important Italian chemical company from 1929 to 1999 at Cengio, in the
up-hills of Genoa, mainly known for the pollution of soils and waters in
the area, associated with its activities. On March 26, 1882, the
Municipality of Cengio authorized the construction of a dynamite
factory. Sulfuric acid, oleum and tritium were produced. However, the
effects of the pollution began to be felt: for years the river Bormida's
water was no longer able to drain, the fog and the rain brought the
phenol to the ground, and in 1909 the Mondovì praetor forbade its use.
Many aqueducts were also closed. In 1931, ACNA was sold.
On the 12th
May 1956, a great demonstration of all the valleys took place
to protest against the pollution. The closure of aqueducts continued
and the pollution grew a lot. Many people were affected by cancer and
malformations due to the gases discharged into the air such as sodium
hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide or hydrogen sulfide.
2. SEVESO
There are heavy metals, normally used, as mercury, cadmium and lead
that become potentially dangerous, if they reach certain concentrations.
Cadmium is used predominantly in the manufacture of batteries and can
go to the environment causing kidney, bone marrow and pulmonary
emphysema. Lead, normally used for example in vehicular carriers,
absorbed in the body, can severely damage the kidneys and lead to
poisoning. Among the most polluting chemicals we find the dioxins
used in the production of herbicides. Dioxin pollution, causing health
problems to humans and animals, causes a considerable increase in
prenatal deaths and births of children with severe malformations. Well
known is the Seveso disaster that occurred in Italy in 1976, where a
dioxin-containing toxic cloud was released from a tri-chloro phenol
production plant, causing serious disadvantages for man and the
environment.
3. MT HAVEN’S SHIPWRECK
Haven is the largest shipwreck in the sea and lies at a depth of 33m to
83m off the coast of Genoa. Today it is a popular tourist attraction with
deep sea divers. On the 11th
of April 1991, the Cypriot ship Haven was
unloading a cargo of 230,000 tons of crude oil to the floating platform in
Multedo, 11 kilometres off the coast of Genoa, Italy.
On the following day, MT Haven was to be towed close to the coast, in a
bid to reduce the coastal area affected and make intervention easier. As
the bow slipped beneath the surface, a steel cable was passed around
the rudder and tugs applied towing pressure. But it was quickly clear
that the ship had broken its back, and the bow section came to rest in
450m of water. On the 14th
April, the 250m long main body sank two
kilometres far from the Ligurian coast between Arenzano and Varazze.
The oil that was contained in the ship spread to the sea causing
pollution from the sea, flora, fauna and all living beings in the vicinity.
The wreck of the ship is still at the bottom of Arenzano's sea and
continues to pollute the sea.
4. THE PARK OF NERVI’S CLEANING
In the city of Genoa, thanks to the initiative of a group of students
nicknamed "Green Angels", in the Park of Nervi, east of the city, a
vegetable restocking has been going on. Unfortunately, the park had
been largely destroyed by a tornado. It was October 14th
2016, when
wind over 150 km/h had raised pines and oak trees along the coastline
of Genoa, breaking and throwing them up. The numbers of that disaster
were impressive, worse than a decimation: 196 trees lost forever (86
cypresses, 50 pines, 36 oaks and 24 among different varieties).
5. TOXIC ALGAE
An algal bloom is a rapid increase or accumulation in the population
of algae in freshwater or marine water systems, and is recognized by
the discoloration in the water from their pigments.
The cyano bacteria were mistaken for algae in the past, so cyano
bacterial blooms are sometimes called algal blooms. Blooms which can
injure animals or the ecology are called "harmful algal blooms" (HAB),
and can lead to fish die-offs, cities cutting off water to residents, or
states having to close fisheries.
Holidaymakers have been advised not to bathe along two stretches of
the Italian coastline because of the invasion of a kind of toxic algae
which, when they bloom, release neurotoxins into the air. People who
come into direct contact with the algae can suffer respiratory problems
or minor skin irritation. Swimming has been banned at beaches near the
northern city of Genoa after a 60-year-old man was taken to hospital.
Subsequent tests showed it was the same type of algae that caused 200
people in the Genoa area to seek hospital treatment the previous year.
The Italian health ministry said the algae do not represent a significant
risk to health but insisted that the temporary bans had been put in place
for the good of swimmers.
6. SAND: THE GOLD OF THE SEA
A new WWF dossier about the sea pollution talks about some important
questions regarding our beaches. It is concentrated particularly on the
topic of bathing establishments, and their environmental impact.
Sometimes in Italy there are some irregular constructions that cause an
impoverishment of the beaches and other dangerous natural activities,
for example, the coastal erosion. This kind of pollution is documented
in the report “Sand: the gold of many to the benefit of few“. This report
describes some irregularities in our country, particularly about the free
beaches stifled by degradation.
For the WWF president, it is important to improve an environmental
policy, and also to guarantee a good environmental preservation. This
is a really important question in Italy, because places like Liguria, Sicily,
etc. “are where lots of riches are concentrated”. In the last part of the
dossier, the WWF indicates the main solutions to save our seas:
control over the new coast edification, lock of bathing establishments,
automatic concessions, and cooperation between ministers, regions
and municipalities, it will be very important to improve the quality of the
new measures.
