First, animals began to die. In the first 7 years after the accident, a very high proportion of females (46 females compared to only 28 males) were born to parents who were exposed to the chemical cloud. On midday of July 10, 1976 an explosion occurred in a TCP (2,4,5-trichlorophenol) reactor in the ICMESA chemical company in Meda, Italy. Italy’s national health care system was reformed, especially with regard to exposures to toxic chemicals. They Location; Hurricane Katrina: Chernobyl Explosion: Union Carbide Accident: Love Canal Waste Bubble: Kuwaiti Blasts: The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Tokaimura Accident: Aral Sea Crisis: Seveso Dioxin Cloud: Minamata Disease: Three Mile Island 1991), was accidentally released … On 10 July 1976, at, there was an accident in Givaudan's chemical plant belonging to the ICMESA firm near Seveso, Northern Italy. So everyone carried on their normal routines outdoors, including eating produce from their gardens. On Saturday July 10, 1976, at around 12:30 a.m., the ICMESA trichlorophenol reactor released a toxic cloud of dioxin and other Around midday on Saturday 10 July 1976, an explosion occurred in a TCP (2,4,5-trichlorophenol) reactor of the ICMESA chemical plant on the outskirts of Meda, a small town about 20 kilometres north of Milan, Italy. More rational changes to the legal regime also followed. Figure 1. corporation on behalf of the Swiss multinational Hofmann-La Roche—released a toxic cloud that caused dioxin contamination on the territory of the towns of Seveso, Meda, Desio and Cesano Maderno.8 Strange as it may seem, the explosion went more or less unnoticed by the inhabitants of adjacent neighborhoods, who were used to gas leaks. The EU industrial safety regulations are known as the Seveso II Directive. The dioxin cloud contaminated a densely populated area about 6 km long and 1 km wide downwind from the site. BY FOFO and DEV DEV Moral This explosion caused many deaths of humans, animals , and even plants. 4.2 Location of Seveso. The name was given because of the nearest effected location to where the dioxin emission happened; a town Seveso with population of 17 thousand people. An uncontrolled exothermic reaction during the manufac-ture of trichlorophenol produced the sud-den release of a cloud of chemical substances that gave immediate signs of hazard: vege- Consequences: The Disaster Seveso, Northern Italy July 10,1976 ICMESA chemical plant was located. kilometres long and one kilometre wide, lying downwind from the site (fig. entro il 01/06/2015. The Meda territory, on the border with the town of Seveso, was the location of the ICMESA factory, which became known in 1976 for the release of a dioxin cloud, which affected many towns of the Brianza. Irish Environment is an online magazine or e-zine which serves as an online resource for environmental matters on the island of Ireland. Dioxin, a formidable poison 1st Sharp toxicity, astonishing stability 2nd Probability very grave but still little known deferred effects 3rd A substance difficult to eliminate as the precedents have shown 2. 40 years ago a cloud of dioxin descended on Seveso, Italy, 64 Years after the London Fog Disaster of 1952 and 60 Years after the UK Clean Air Act of 1956, Brexit and Its Potential Impacts on Northern Ireland’s Environment. Location of Repository DIOXIN AND HUMAN SEX RATIO: THE SEVESO CASE . The factory at Meda : serious deficiencies The Seveso disaster was an industrial accident that took place on July 10 th , 1976, 20km north of Milan in Meda, in Italy at a chemical manufacturing facility. The name was given because of the nearest effected location to where the dioxin emission happened; a town Seveso with population of 17 thousand people. An uncontrolled exothermic reaction during the manufac-ture of trichlorophenol produced the sud-den release of a cloud of chemical substances that gave immediate signs of hazard: vege- September 1, 2016 | By Robert Emmet Hernan, In July 1976, some 40 years ago, weather was, as usual, hot and sticky in Seveso, Italy. Many chloracne cases were diagnosed in Seveso residents, especially in children. Moreover, in the case of the Seveso cloud, where the dioxin was being carried on people and things, it was seen as a sort of plague, like a dread disease (Edelstein 1988); and this sense of being contaminated increased the distress, personal, social and economic, of the population. Temperatures and pressures soared, and a valve released a white cloud of smoke. Fig. The odor belonged to a highly toxic organic compound known as dioxin that had escaped from the Seveso factory. This event became internationally known as the Seveso disaster, after the name of a neighbouring municipality that was most severely affected (Hay 1982; Pocchiari, Silano, and Zapponi 1987). 334/99; “Seveso II-bis” 2003/105/CE, recepita in Italia con D.Lgs. The pets in the Zone were destroyed. A reactor vessel safety plate ruptured, resulting in the release of a toxic vapour cloud. No one could tell them how long they would be relocated, nor even if they would be returning to their homes, or whether their homes would even be there. Dioxin is not normally formed but the reactor got too hot resulting in a runaway reaction which caused a rise in pressure leading to the disc rupture. © 2012 - 2021 Irish Environment. Location; Hurricane Katrina: Chernobyl Explosion: Union Carbide Accident: Love Canal Waste Bubble: Kuwaiti Blasts: The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Tokaimura Accident: Aral Sea Crisis: Seveso Dioxin Cloud: Minamata Disease: Three Mile Island Il 10 luglio del 1976 si è verificato uno dei più gravi incidenti ambientali della storia italiana: una nube di diossina si è sprigionata dalla fabbrica di cosmetici dell’Icmesa a Seveso, in Brianza. Until 1976 Industrie Chimiche Meda Società Azionaria (ICMESA) was located at the border with the town of Desio. A dense white cloud, of considerable altitude drifted offsite. The disaster occurred in Meda, Italy, in 1976. The four most impacted municipalities included Seveso (a 1976 population of 17000), Meda (19000), Desio (33000), and Cesano Maderno (34000). The Seveso, Italy, dioxin episode caused severe TCDD exposure to a population comprising people of both genders and all ages, with little or no interference by other contaminants. Maintenance staff heard a whistling sound and a cloud of vapour was seen to issue from a vent on the roof. One toxic effect of the Seveso dioxin exposure was on reproduction. On July 10, 1976, an explosion at a northern Italian chemical plant released a thick, white cloud of dioxin that quickly settled on the town of Seveso, north of Milan. Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors. 13. (1405). This accident resulted in the release of a chemical cloud containing the highly toxic dioxin TCDD.Winds carried the cloud southeast, where it contaminated land and vegetation in the municipality of Seveso and other communities in the area. In July 1976, some 40 years ago, weather was, as usual, hot and sticky in Seveso, Italy. The dioxin cloud contaminated a densely populated area about six kilometres long and one kilometre wide, lying downwind from the site (fig. Saturday, July 10, 1976 : SEVESO 1. It had to be cut off and stopped so the people would not drink and could be evactuated. Most had a garden, even a small farm, attached to the house, where they grew vegetables, kept chickens, rabbits (ragout was a favorite dish), ducks, and goats, and tended peach, plum, apricot, and pear trees, all for their own subsistence. Map of Seveso, Italy indicating the location of Zones A, B, R, and Non-ABR, adapted from (Mocarelli et al., 1991a). This event is known as the “Seveso disaster” (Disastro di Seveso). They were transferred to the French army base were the Roche group imported the 42 barrels to … Introduction. The term refers Seveso disaster incident occurred July 10, 1976 holding ICMESA Meda, which resulted in the release of a cloud of dioxin type TCDD, one of the most dangerous toxic substances. Until 1976 Industrie Chimiche Meda Società Azionaria (ICMESA) was located at the border with the town of Desio. Then with little warning, the authorities ordered everybody to evacuate with only the clothes on their backs and a suitcase. Temperatures and pressures soared, and a valve released a white cloud of smoke. Abstract. Juli 1976 entwich aus einer Chemiefabrik in Norditalien hochgiftiges Dioxin. It resulted in the highest known exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in residential populations, which gave rise to numerous scientific studies and standardized industrial safety regulations. Seveso Dioxin Cloud. Imagining that the contaminated air carried substantial risks for them and their children was perhaps too difficult. Seveso Dioxin Cloud. 4.1). The people were accustomed to smoke and pollution from the surrounding industries, and therefore were not alarmed initially. Some resisted and tried to bring their pets, but the authorities stopped them and the pets were forced to stay behind. As they turned toward the sound, they saw the cloud, varyingly white and gray, heading toward and then over them. A dense vapour cloud containing tetrachlorodibenzoparadioxin (TCDD) was released from a reactor, used for the production of trichlorofenol. 3. Italian authorities were informed on July 19, nine days after the spill, about the widespread dioxin contamination, and, on July 24, the evacuation of the Seveso’s and Meda’s population began. Restrictions on chemical management evolve from tragic accidents like this one. On July 10, 1976, an explosion at the ICMESA chemical plant released a thick, white cloud that quickly settled on the town of Seveso in northern Italy.In the cloud was 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin), a highly toxic material.First, animals began to die. How this came to pass can be tied to a number of widely reported cases over the last several decades. They found them and they were stored in an unused slaughterhouse in northern France. Being dislocated from everything that looks, feels, and smells familiar is traumatic. This paper was based on a presentation at the 25 Years of Endocrine Disruption Research: Past Lessons and Future Directions meeting on September 18–20, 2016 as part of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 50th year celebration. By Paolo Mocarelli. They had to live in crowded temporary accommodations, along with others who were suffering from similar illnesses and deep anxieties. The Seveso accident happened in 1976 at a chemical plant manufacturing pesticides and herbicides. 1. 1 A toxic cloud containing TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), then widely believed to be one of the most toxic man-made chemicals (Mocarelli et al. Very soon after the boundaries for relocating residents were established, further sampling results indicated that the area of risk was much wider and the boundaries had to be expanded. All of this paled in comparison to the sight of their children’s faces, swollen with pustules and running sores, ridden with black and scarlet pockmarks. The actual explosion occurred on 10th of July, 1976 in Meda, Italy in a TCP reactor owned by the ICMESA chemical company. 3. Some 40 years later the people exposed to dioxin continue to be subjected to disturbing health effects. Italy, what they are and where are the thousand “Seveso” factories Online the list of plants that treat dangerous substances in large quantities. On July 10, 1976, a valve broke at the Industrie Chimiche Meda Società Azionaria (ICMESA) chemical plant in Meda, just north of Milan, Italy. Herein, Hites reviews the chemistry, prevalence, and environmental spread of dioxins to illustrate their links to environmental policy. The cloud descended on them, like a fog filled with damp crystals. We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. 10th July 1976 Accident summary. SEVESO DIOXIN CLOUD The Cloud The cloud affected all organisms. This map is reprinted from ref 11 with permission. Seveso Dioxin Cloud. A toxic cloud escaped into the atmosphere containing high concentrations of TCDD, a highly toxic form of dioxin. A damaged valve at the ICMESA chemical plant led to the release of a cloud of smoke that contained toxic chemicals. It is highly lipophilic and has a long half-life in humans. A 1976 explosion in Seveso, Italy exposed residents to high levels of dioxin. Seveso is a municipality located 20 km north of Milan. These legal reforms are a way of addressing the anxieties and uncertainties that follow environmental disasters. Direttiva europea “Seveso” 82/501/CEE, recepita in Italia con il DPR 17 maggio 1988, n. 175; sostituita dalle direttive: “Seveso II” 96/82 CEE, recepita in Italia con D.Lgs. From refineries to LPG storage, these are sensitive sites to be controlled to avoid accidents. The gas was poisonous and killed many animals and plants.It also affected humans an it gave them ill affects. In the international arena, the European Economic Community, now European Union, passed legislation — the Seveso Directive —to control the transnational shipment of toxic wastes. In the first 7 years after the accident, a very high proportion of females (46 females compared to only 28 males) were born to parents who were exposed to the chemical cloud. Italian authorities were informed on July 19, nine days after the spill, about the widespread dioxin contamination, and, on July 24, the evacuation of the Seveso’s and Meda’s population began. At approximately 12:37 on Saturday 10th July 1976 a bursting disc on a chemical reactor ruptured. By Gilbert Cruz. This event is known as the “Seveso disaster” (Disastro di Seveso). People were told by the chemical company and local authorities only that the explosion contained some toxic substances but there was nothing to worry about. But then birds died, rabbits sickened, and children developed horrible pustules and other skin deformities. Much of what we know and can learn about the risks of dioxin exposure on human health arose from the tragic circumstances of Seveso. A 15-year mortality study after the "Seveso accident." Dioxin exposure and non-malignant health effects. The anger that followed the explosion, and the way the company and authorities reacted to the explosion, spilled over into vigilantism with attacks on and even killing of company personnel. Seveso Dioxin Cloud. By Gilbert Cruz Monday, May 03, 2010. The accident resulted in exposing residents of the area to the highest amount of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on record. The release lasted for some twenty minutes. Map of the dioxin contaminated zones in Seveso, Italy. A mortality study. Only several weeks later did the company acknowledge that the toxic substance was dioxin, one of the most toxic substances. The maintenance staff heard a whistling sound and a cloud of vapour was seen to issue from a vent on the roof giving rise to the formation of a dense cloud of considerable altitude. When they ventured out from this group, they were treated as contaminated themselves. All Rights Reserved. Location of Seveso Italy, Europe Zones of contamination The media now mentions Seveso in line with major disasters such as Bhopal and Chernobyl, which have both become international symbols of industrially related disasters. A toxic cloud escaped into the atmosphere containing high concentrations of TCDD, a highly toxic form of dioxin. 40 years ago a cloud of dioxin descended on Seveso, Italy September 1, 2016 | By Robert Emmet Hernan. At least if collective action is taken to address some of the factors that caused the disaster, there is some comfort that other disasters can be avoided. On July 10, 1976, an explosion at a northern Italian chemical plant released a thick, white cloud of dioxin that quickly settled on the town of Seveso, north of … A mortality study. Here is the map The map of Seveso plants in Italy. A cloud of toxic material was released and included 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Of course, if no one enforces the tougher laws then the comfort is ephemeral. Il disastro di Seveso. The children were taken away and put in camps during the day, to protect them from the dangers in the Zone. One toxic effect of the Seveso dioxin exposure was on reproduction. Dioxins are arguably one of the most notorious anthropogenic environmental toxicants. Italy, was possibly caused by an unforeseeable exothermic reaction with increase of temperature, slow decomposition of the reaction mass, formation of gas and rise in pressure. plant near the town of Seveso, Italy, in 1976 caused a large population to be exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin). „Wie ein heißer Windstoß“ kam die Wolke über Seveso, aber die Bewohner wurden erst acht Tage später informiert. That particular certainty was misleading. Based on toxic cloud location and dioxin concentration in the soil, risk zones, A, B and R, were created. ICMESA was a chemical industry of the Swiss company Givaudan (from 1963 belonging to the multinational pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche). The managers of the Icmesa chemical plant at Seveso, near Milan in northern Italy, made a change in the production process after several years of production with the original design. On July 10, 1976, an explosion at a northern Italian chemical plant released a thick, white cloud of dioxin that quickly settled on the town of Seveso, north of Milan. All these uncertainties were compounded by the questions about long-term, as-yet-to-be-seen consequences of the dioxin exposure. The Seveso, Italy, dioxin episode caused severe TCDD exposure to a population comprising people of both genders and all ages, with little or no interference by other contaminants. First, animals began … The fallout caused coughing and burning eyes, quickly followed by headaches, dizziness, and diarrhea. A toxic cloud escaped into the atmosphere containing high concentrations of TCDD, a highly toxic form of dioxin. It was a Saturday, July 10, 1976 : SEVESO 1. The nature of the reaction is still unknown and will be investigated further. This was the first time a chemical had been obser-ved to change the sex ratio, implicating dioxin as a Extensive studies in the affected population are continuing to determine the long-term human health effects from this incident. März 2003, 12:07 Am 10. On July 10, 1976, an explosion at a northern Italian chemical plant released a thick, white cloud of dioxin that quickly settled on the town of Seveso, north of Milan. The accident took place on July 10, 1976, in the trichlorophenol production department of a chemical plant located near the town of Seveso, 25 km north of Milan. 4.1). Icmesa chemical company, Seveso, Italy. Despite protests by the authorities, a number of pregnant women had abortions rather than risk giving birth to newborns with serious deformities because of exposure in the Zone. This review aims to describe the Seveso accident, summarize the results of 40 years of research on the health of the Seveso population since the accident, and discuss next-stage research on the health of Seveso residents, their children, and grandchildren. Would their babies be deformed, would they or their children develop cancers in ten, twenty, thirty years? Some twenty years later, studies suggested that staying in place subjected them to risks of increased disease from the exposure to dioxin. The Meda territory, on the border with the town of Seveso, was the location of the ICMESA factory, which became known in 1976 for the release of a dioxin cloud, which affected many towns of the Brianza. Their lives had become, as they said, bruttissima, the ugliest kind of life. 238/2005; “Seveso III” 2012/18/UE, entrata in vigore il 13/08/2012, dovrà essere recepita dagli S.M. Seveso: Italian dioxin crisis. II. plant near the town of Seveso, Italy, in 1976 caused a large population to be exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin).