An explosion at a chemical plant in Seveso, Italy in 1976 released toxic clouds containing dioxins over nearby areas. Immediate effects included skin lesions and illness in people and damage to vegetation. Long-term health impacts included liver damage, immune system problems, and increased cancer rates. Soil in contaminated zones was removed and buried in concrete pits as a countermeasure. The disaster led to new regulations like the Seveso Directive to prevent chemical accidents and limit environmental and health impacts.

1. SEVESO DISASTER
AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT CAUSING
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
FEBRUARY-17-2017
MOHD SALMAN
16LPMS06
MSc PLANT BIOLOGY AND
BIOTECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF HYDERABAD
mohdsalmanuoh@gmail.com
SUPERVISOR
Dr. IRFAN A. GHAZI
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT
SCIENCE

2. TRICHLOPHENOL PLANT

3. Map of the Seveso accident area showing the trichlorophenol plant, Icmesa, where
the TCCD exposer occured, the three contamination zones, A, B, and R, and the
surrounding noncontaminated area adopted as a reference zone.
REF: Environmental Health Perspectives * Vol 106, Supplement 2 * April 1998

4. JULY 10,1976, SEVESO, ITALY
THE INDUSTRIE CHIMICHE MERIDIONALI
SOCIETA ANONIMA FACTORY
UNEXPECTED RISE IN TEMPERATURE AND
PRESSURE IN A 2,4,5-Trichlorophenol(TCP)
REACTOR
EXPLOSION

5. RELEASING ‘TOXIC CLOUDS’
 2,3,7,8-TRICHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN(TCDD) (in Kg)
SODIUM HYDROXIDE
SODIUMTRICHLOROPHENATE
ETHYLENE GLYCOL

6. RELEASE OF ‘TOXIC CLOUDS’
CONTAINING
 2,3,7,8-TRICHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN(TCDD)
SODIUM HYDROXIDE
SODIUMTRICHLOROPHENATE
ETHYLENE GLYCOL
HIGHLY
TOXIC

7. 2,3,7,8-TRICHLORODIBENZO-P-DIOXIN(TCDD)

9. IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
 VEGETATION, BIRDS, AND COURTYARD ANIMALAS WERE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED.
 PEOPLE WHO HAPPENED TO BE ON THE DEPOPSITION PATH OF THE CLOUD
DEVELOPED NAUSEA, HEADACHE, AND EYE IRRITATION, AND A FEW CHILDREN
WERE ADMITTED TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HOSPITALS FOR SKIN LESIONS ON
EXPOSED PARTS OF THE BODY.

10. HAZARDOUS
EFFECTS OF
DIOXIN
ABSORBED BY
THE EARTH AND
BY THE PLANTS
IMPAIR
NERVOUS
SYSTEM
LIVER
DAMAGE
REDUCED
REPRODUCTIVE
CAPACITY
CIRCULATORY
PROBLEMS
CAUSES
CANCER
SUPPRESS
IMMUNE
SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY
PROBLEMS

11. HAZARDOUS EFFECTS
REF: http://uncoveringflorence.weebly.com/uploads/2/8/3/1/28316163/191855631.jpg?525

12. Long-lasting effect Of The Seveso Disaster On Thyroid Function In Babies. 2,3,7,8-
tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) – the dioxin released by the Seveso disaster – is the
most toxic type of dioxin and in 1997 was declared a class-1 carcinogen by the World
Health Organization
REF: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728215326.htm

13. REF: Environmental exposure to dioxin: the Seveso experience Signorini 2000
DIOXIN CONCENTRATION IN DIFFERENT ZONES

14. COUNTERMEASURES
 REMOVAL OF TOP SOIL.
 SEVESO DIRECTIVE OF EC WAS ISSUED.
 BASEL CONVENTION OF THE UNITED
NATIONS WAS ADOPTED.
 $ 48 – 50 MILLION . ABOUT 140 HUNDRED
YEN. (ESTIMATION BY ITALIAN AUTHORITIES)

15. COUNTERMEASURES
 REMOVAL OF TOP SOIL.
Removing all of the top soil. 1800 hectares were polluted and the
direct countermeasure was soil dressing. Two large holes were dug;
the polluted soil was buried in them; and, they were covered with
concrete.
 SEVESO DIRECTIVE OF EC WAS ISSUED.
attempted to prevent major accidents and limit effects on human
health the environment by the chemical industry.
 BASEL CONVENTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS WAS
ADOPTED.
intended to prevent the transfer of pollutants across borders.

16. REFERENCES
Environmental exposure to dioxin: the Seveso experience -
Signorini 2000
 Environmental Health Perspectives : Vol 106, Supplement 2,
April- 1998
 Health Effects of Dioxin Exposure: A 20 Year MortalityStudy-
Pier Alberto Bertazzi- 2001
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/08072821532
6.htm
http://uncoveringflorence.weebly.com/uploads/2/8/3/1/28316
163/191855631.jpg?525

18. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
DR.IRFAN A.GHAZI
DR.RAHUL KUMARDR.J. MADHU PRAKASH
PROF.C.H.VENKETRAMANA
H.O.D
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE