Seveso

Seveso is a town and comune in the Province of Monza and Brianza, in the Region of Lombardy, northern Italy. It is most notable for the Seveso disaster, an industrial accident that occurred on 10 July 1976.

History[edit | edit source]

Seveso was first mentioned in the 10th century AD. Its name comes from the Latin Silvasco, meaning "covered by forests". In the Middle Ages, Seveso was a centre of the Guelphs and Ghibellines conflict.

Seveso Disaster[edit | edit source]

The Seveso disaster was an industrial accident that occurred on 10 July 1976 in a small chemical manufacturing plant. It resulted in the highest known exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in residential populations, which led to a dramatic increase in chloracne and other health effects.

Causes[edit | edit source]

The disaster was caused by a chemical reaction in a trichlorophenol reactor, releasing a toxic cloud containing TCDD into the air. The cloud contaminated a populated area of approximately 18.3 square kilometers, leading to the evacuation of 736 people.

Aftermath[edit | edit source]

The aftermath of the disaster led to widespread health problems and environmental damage. Many animals died and many people were affected by chloracne and other health problems. The area was decontaminated by removing and incinerating about 600,000 cubic meters of soil.