Seveso disaster
Seveso Disaster
The Seveso Disaster (pronunciation: /sɛˈveɪzoʊ/; Italian: [seˈvɛːzo]) was an industrial accident that occurred on 10 July 1976 in a small chemical manufacturing plant approximately 15 km north of Milan in the Lombardy region in Italy. It resulted in the highest known exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in residential populations which led to a large increase in chloracne cases and other health effects.
Etymology
The disaster is named after Seveso, the town in Italy where the incident occurred. The term "Seveso Disaster" is now often used to refer to any similar incident involving the release of dioxins into the environment.
Background
The disaster occurred in a plant owned by a company named ICMESA (Industrie Chimiche Meda Società Azionaria), a subsidiary of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Givaudan. The plant was involved in the production of trichlorophenol (TCP), a chemical intermediate used in the manufacture of hexachlorophene, a disinfectant.
Incident
On 10 July 1976, a pressure release valve in one of the TCP manufacturing reactors released a toxic cloud containing TCDD into the atmosphere. The cloud, carried by the wind, contaminated a populated area of approximately 18 km², affecting around 37,000 people and leading to the evacuation of 700 people from their homes.
Health Effects
The most evident health effect was the outbreak of chloracne, a severe skin disease, in the exposed population. Other reported health effects included peripheral neuropathy, liver dysfunction, and an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
Aftermath
The Seveso Disaster led to significant changes in European Union industrial policy, with the introduction of the "Seveso Directive" in 1982. This directive, which has been updated several times since, aims to prevent major accidents involving dangerous substances and limit the consequences of such accidents.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Seveso disaster
- Wikipedia's article - Seveso disaster
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