What happened during the Seveso disaster?
On July 10, 1976, a valve broke at the Industrie Chimiche Meda Società Azionaria (ICMESA) chemical plant in Meda, just north of Milan, Italy. This accident resulted in the release of a chemical cloud containing the highly toxic dioxin TCDD.
How did the Seveso disaster affect the environment?
An unforeseeable accident on July 10, 1976, in Seveso, Italy, led to an environmental contamination with caustic reaction products and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). By the end of 1976, the contamination had been transferred to the soil, where TCDD was strongly adsorbed, which reduced bioavailability.
How was the Seveso disaster cleaned up?
The local government, in coordinated efforts with ICMESA, embarked on cleaning up the contaminated area. Some evacuees were able to return to their homes, and the local government turned the rest of the zone into a public park known as the Seveso Oak Forest Park.
What chemicals were involved in the Seveso disaster?
The accident that occurred near the town of Seveso, Italy, in 1976 caused exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD or dioxin) in a large population.
Who did the Seveso disaster affect?
The Seveso disaster was named after Seveso, the community most affected, with a population of 17,000 in 1976. Other affected neighbouring communities were Meda (19,000), Desio (33,000), Cesano Maderno (34,000) and to a lesser extent Barlassina (6,000) and Bovisio-Masciago (11,000).
What are the causes of environmental catastrophes?
The most common causes include pollution that seeps into groundwater or a body of water, emissions into the atmosphere and depletion of natural resources, industrial activity or agricultural practices.
How many people died in the Seveso dioxin cloud?
None of the 20,000 people who lived in Seveso died, but the poison killed 3,000 farm animals and pets. Another 70,000 animals had to be killed to stop the dioxin from getting into the food chain.