Seveso, Italy

There have been suggestions of alterations in sex ratios following accidental environmental exposure to dioxin in Seveso, Italy, in 1976. Between 1977 and 1984, 74 births occurred in the most heavily contaminated zone which showed an excess of females (26 males and 48 females born). Preliminary evidence suggests that the excess was associated with high dioxin exposure in both parents. Over a later period, between 1985 and 1994, the ratio declined (60 males and 64 females) and was no longer statistically significant. 

Seveso, Italy, caused wide-spread pollution of the industrial site as well as its surroundings. Serious effects of dioxin were detected both in dontestic animals, such as cows and sheep, and in humans, the most serious early effects being a serious skin disease, chloracne, and alterations in the function of the immune system. Follow-up studies have demonstrated that this accident also increased the cancer risk in exposed individuals. ... 

TCDD is the most potent inducer of chloracne. This has been well known since the accident in Seveso, Italy, in 1976 in which large amounts of TCDD were distributed in the environment subsequent to an explosion in a factory that produced a chlorophenoxy herbicide, 2,4,5-T. TCDD is an impurity produced during the production of 2,4,5-T. The most common long-term effect of TCDD exposure was chloracne. Exposed individuals also suffered increased excretion of porphyrins, hyper-pigmentation, central nervous system effects, and liver damage and increased risk of cancer was a long-term consequence of the exposure. In addition to TCDD, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans, and polychloronaphthalens cause chloracne as well as other effects typical of TCDD. 7i... 

The use of an unnecessarily hot heating medium led to the runaway reaction at Seveso, Italy, in 1976, which caused a fallout of dioxin over the sun ounding countryside, making it unfit for habitation. Although no one was killed, it became one of the best-known chemical accidents, exceeded only by Bhopal, and had far-reaching effects on the laws of many countries. 

Seveso, Italy 1996 plasma from most heavily soil- 53 (1-90) FW vs. 5 FW 44... 

Fanelli, R., M.P. Bertoni, M. Bonfanti, M.G. Castelli, C. Chiabrando, G.R Martelli, M.A. Noe, A. Noseda, S. Garattini, C. Binaghi, V. Marazza, F. Pezza, D. Pozzoli, and G. Cigognetti. 1980a. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorod-ibcnzo-p-dioxin in cow s milk from the contaminated area of Seveso, Italy. Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 24 634-639. 

The four most cited accidents (Flixborough, England Bhopal, India Seveso, Italy and Pasadena, Texas) are presented here. All these accidents had a significant impact on public perceptions and the chemical engineering profession that added new emphasis and standards in the practice of safety. Chapter 13 presents case histories in considerably more detail. 

Use the Bhopal accident and the investigation developed in Problem 12-3 to develop an investigation summary similar to Example 12-2. Include layered recommendations. 12-5. Use the Seveso, Italy, accident described in chapter 1 to develop an investigation similar to Example 12-1. 

Flixborough, England 23 Bhopal, India 25 Seveso, Italy 26 Pasadena, Texas 27 Suggested Reading 29 Problems 30... 

Compared to people in a noncontaminated area, plasma IgG levels were also significantly decreased in proportion to increasing plasma levels of TCDD in a cohort exposed in an industrial accident in Seveso, Italy.118 There was no effect on IgM or IgA levels, or on complement levels IgE was not measured. In separate studies, in vitro exposure to TCDD enhanced the spontaneous production of IgE by B cells isolated from atopic but not non-atopic individuals, but did not affect the levels of other isotypes.119 Other recent studies have reported small changes in immune cells from individuals exposed occupationally to PHAH.120121 For example, compared to unexposed controls, a cohort of men exposed occupationally to TCDD had diminished IFNy production in a recall response to tetanus toxin, while IFNy production following polyclonal activation was unaffected.120 This observation is consistent with mouse studies, in which antigen-specific responses are highly suppressed by TCDD, but mitogen-driven T cell responses are less susceptible to impairment.83 88122123... 

The 1976 runaway reaction at Seveso, Italy that resulted in the contamination of several square miles of land with dioxin... 

Lodi, New Jersey incident, 8, 159-160 management practices, 67-68 Paterson, New Jersey incident, 160-161 Seveso, Italy incident, 4 Springfield, Massachusetts incident, 7 Toulouse, France incident, 4,5 Castleford, UK incident, 11,156-158 Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), 183... 

Self-accelerating decomposition temperature (SADT), screening methods, 56 Self-reactive materials chemical reactivity hazard, 1,2 screening methods, 54-58 Seveso, Italy incident, 4 Seveso II Directive, 5-6,27 Shelf life... 

Reggiani G Acute human exposure to TCDD in Seveso, Italy. J Toxicol Environ Health 6 27, 1980... 

Most, if not all, occupational illnesses associated with 2,4,5-T (such as chloracne) have been found to be the result of product contamination with TCDD. TCDD is extremely toxic to animals, and exposure has also been associated with liver function impairment, peripheral neuropathy, personality changes, porphyria cutanea, hypertrichosis, and hyperpigmentation in humans. TCDD is a chlorinated dioxin, one of a large number of related compounds referred to as dioxins it has no functional use and is not intentionally produced. It has been identified as the responsible toxic agent in several industrial disasters, such as accidental releases at Nitro, WV in 1949, and at Seveso, Italy in 1976. " The role of dioxin contaminants must also be considered in the discussion of 2,4,5-T toxicology. 

A plant manufacturing 2,4,5-trichlorophenol in Seveso, Italy exploded and liberated substantial amounts of TCDD (dioxin). Although it caused quite a scare and the town was evacuated, there were no known deaths and no increase in birth defects reported. Some chloracne (a skin disease) occurred and one liver cancer was diagnosed. 

There have been occasions in which relatively large quantities of dioxins were released as the result of chemical or industrial accidents. Explosions at chemical plants in Seveso, Italy, in 1976 and at Bhopal, India, in 1984 are examples of such incidents. High levels of dioxin have also been found in animal feed on a few occasions the source and mechanism of this contamination have not always been clear. 

Amphibians Seveso, Italy, 1978 Toad, Bufo sp., whole 200 FW 1... 

TERRESTRIAL ORGANISMS Higher plants Seveso, Italy, 1976 Various species, leaves Max. 50,000,000 FW 2... 

Seveso, Italy, 1976 Domestic goat, Capra sp. Liver 1253 FW 12... 

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