What led to the Seveso disaster?
Abstract—The accident which occurred during the production of TCP at Seveso. 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.
What happened at Seveso?
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.
What is the dioxin chemical?
Dioxins are a group of chemically-related compounds that are persistent environmental pollutants (POPs). Dioxins are highly toxic and can cause reproductive and developmental problems, damage the immune system, interfere with hormones and also cause cancer.
How was Seveso cleaned?
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 did ICMESA do?
On July 10, 1976, an explosion in a chemical reactor at the plant of Italian company ICMESA released a toxic cloud containing dioxin that descended on the community. The dioxin, one of the most toxic substances known to man, was used to produce 2, 4, 5-trichlorophenol for use in hexachlorophene.
What happened after the Seveso disaster?
Aftermath of the Seveso Disaster 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.
How did the Seveso disaster affect people?
It resulted in the highest known exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in residential populations, which gave rise to numerous scientific studies and standardized industrial safety regulations. The EU industrial safety regulations are known as the Seveso II Directive.
What is the main source of dioxin?
Source and origin of dioxins Dioxin is formed by burning chlorine-based chemical compounds with hydrocarbons. The major source of dioxin in the environment comes from waste-burning incinerators of various sorts and also from backyard burn-barrels.
What happened in the Seveso disaster?
Seveso disaster. Jump to navigation Jump to search. The Seveso disaster was an industrial accident that occurred around 12:37 pm on July 10, 1976, in a small chemical manufacturing plant approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Milan in the Lombardy region of Italy.
What happened to ICMESA in Spain?
On the 21st of July, the director and the deputy director of ICMESA were arrested for “culpable disaster” and a judicial process started. On July 24th, the mayor of Seveso ordered 179 people to leave their homes to be hosted in a residence. Subsequently, the same thing happened to many other people, even in other towns.
Where is Seveso located?
North Italy, 1976; chemical industry leaks dangerous substances and Italy learns how pollution kills. Seveso is a municipality located 20 km north of Milan. Until 1976 Industrie Chimiche Meda Società Azionaria (ICMESA) was located at the border with the town of Desio.
What is the best book on the Seveso disaster?
Castel Bolognese: Itaca Books. ISBN 978-88-526-0486-7. Loss Prevention Bulletin The Seveso Disaster: An appraisal of its causes and circumstances, Marshallvagri, V.C., LPB Issue 104, April 1992, IChemE, UK. Dioxin: Seveso disaster testament to effects of dioxin, article by Mick Corliss, May 6, 1999.