Solvay

Investigations for pollution, trials for environmental disasters, analyzes that detected Pfas in the blood of the citizens of Alessandria and even the production stop imposed in June were not enough:after less than a month and a half, the chemical center Syensqo (formerly Solvay) received authorization from the Province to resume the production and use of Pfas cC604, a substance classified as toxic to humans.The news was given by the Environment councilor of the municipality of Alessandria Giorgio Laguzzi - who explained that the decision would have been taken on the basis of data presented by the company and by Arpa analyzes - and the former councilor Claudio Lombardi, who however, he denounced that everything would have happened based on «checks and activities carried out by an expert appointed by Solvay». The reaction from environmental associations and the Stop Solvay committee was immediate, who sent a letter of concern to the Piedmont Region asking for immediate actio...

High levels of PFAS were found in the blood of all 36 citizens of Spinetta Marengo - a municipality in the province of Alessandria where Syensqo (formerly Solvay) is located, which ended up at the center of a trial for an environmental disaster - recently subjected to biomonitoring.In fact, in 100% of cases they are present concentrations greater than 2 nanograms per milliliter, a threshold identified as a reference value by the National Academies of Sciences and by the Piedmont Region protocol, beyond which deleterious effects on human health may occur.The 36 citizens are submitted voluntarily to the test, promoted by the associations Ànemo, Greenpeace Italia and the Stop Solvay Committee, in May.The analyses, paid for by the Alexandrians out of their own pockets, were carried out by a laboratory at the German University of Aachen.An alarming fact, given that PFAS are highly persistent substances that can cause multiple, even very serious, health problems. The news was communic...

Following the checks carried out by Arpa Piemonte, which certified the failure to comply with the limits of PFAS emissions into the environment, the province of Alessandria sent a double warning to Syensqo – the former Solvay – imposing a halt to production for 30 days.The decision was taken after the company was in recent weeks at the center of particularly serious foam releases in the Bormida river and after investigations conducted for years which resulted in accusations of negligent environmental disaster and which led to discoveries that were anything but reassuring, such as the discovery of Pfas in the blood of the inhabitants of Spinetta Marengo.«It is time for a national law that prohibits the use and production of these dangerous substances to protect the environment and the health of citizens», commented Greenpeace Italia. THE Pfas they are a group that collects over 10,000 synthetic molecules not present in nature, used in various industrial processes...

The trial has officially begun before the Gup of the Court of Alessandria which sees the chemical giant Solvay in the dock for culpable environmental disaster.In fact, the industrial site of the company which produces, among other things, the toxic and persistent PFAS substances is located in the Piedmontese city.Last May 6, at the preliminary hearing, over 250 civil parties appeared before the judge, including environmental associations and institutions.There is talk of a very broad investigation, which specifically targeted two former Solvay managers, Stefano Bigini, plant director from 2008 until December 2018, and Andrea Diotto, director of the fluid and fluid production unit from 1 January 2013. from 1 September 2018 plant manager.The defense will file their briefs by 6 July, while an initial calendar of the hearings which will take place in the autumn has already been drawn up.Below the production center, the aquifer is the most contaminated in Europe by PFAS and recently the fir...