Dioxin in the air. The director of the Civil Protection: “speed of intervention leads to cautious optimism”
«Concentrations greater than 0.3 pg/m3 indicate the presence of a source of localized emission, that is, they mean that the fire has actually generated dioxin».
The note is of theArpa Lazio and spreads the first data of the monitoring of the air in relation to the fire that occurred yesterday 4 July near via dei Gordiani a Romaafter theexplosion to the petrol and LPG distributor which caused 45 injured. The regional agency that deals with air quality confirms the hypotheses made by the experts, namely that the sedate Of plastics has actually generated the diffusion in the air of toxic substances.
The agency staff, explains the note, “installed a samplera necessary tool to verify the possible presence in the air of polluting substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PCBs and dioxins, a short distance from the area affected by the fire “.
WHO data
Table of Contents
The results of the analyzes are shown in a table after being promptly shared with the health authority. The important data concerns precisely the presence of dioxin-teq equal to 1 pg/m3.
As for dioxins, explains the harp, there is no regulatory reference but theOms esteem toxicity concentrations Equivalent (teq) of dioxins and furani in an urban environment of about 0.1 pg/m3, even if the variability from area to area is high, while concentrations above 0.3 pg/m3 – as in the case of via dei Gordiani – indicate the presence of a source of localized emission, “or mean that the fire has actually generated dioxin”.
The director of the Civil Protection: “Cautious optimism”
The data «Fortunately they induce a cautious optimism And the merit is certainly to be attributed to the rapid intervention of the firefighters. There speed with whom they have operated It made it possible to turn off the flames quickly and therefore reduced the amount of dioxin released into the air. ” Giuseppe Napolitano, director of the Civil Protection of Rome, says this, commenting on the first results of the first monitoring.
“It is known that a fire – he added – harder over time and the more it reaches high temperatures with the consequent diffusion in the dioxin air. The rapid and effective intervention of the firefighters as well as having been courageous and decisive for people’s lives is revealing itself very important also for the return to normal ».
The outbreak, the investigation
The Search has opened ainvestigation per Hitty fire and serious injuriesthe results of the inspection of the scientific police are also expected. According to some reconstructions, there would have been a first firebursting after the contact betweenautocisterial on the spot to supply the distributor and one column. According to other versions, the truck has instead hit one of the tubes used to connect it to the main deposit.
Il boat He was warned kilometers away, and the column of smoke. The regional agency that deals with air quality, now, confirms the initial suspicions, that is, that harmful substances have been produced during the fire.
The recommendations: “closed windows and masks”
Yesterday, immediately after the burst, the recommendations from the Civil Protection and of theAsl Roma 2who invited citizens to follow precise indications for limit l’exposure to fumes and to the products of combustion harmful to health: «Do not stop near the area affected by the fire; As far as possible to remain inside the houses. If necessary, exit using the devices of FFP2 protection; keep the windows closed; deactivate the ventilation systems (air conditioners, controlled mechanical ventilation, aspiring hoods) to avoid the introduction of insalubre external air; Avoid using vehicles: circulation with open windows or active ventilation systems can increase the risk of inhalation of irritating substances; refrain dal consumption Of fruit and vegetables products cultivated in the area, up to new communication ».
Particular attention, then warned the Municipality of Rome, must be placed “by the more vulnerable subjects: babies, children and teenagers; elderly people; subjects suffering from chronic, cardiovascular or immunosuppressive conditions; pregnant women. In the event of the appearance of acute respiratory symptoms (breathing difficulties, persistent cough, eye burning and nausea), promptly contact the general practitioner or, in the event of an emergency, the single number 112 “.
Meanwhile, given i danni caused by the fire, in the neighborhood the solidarity. A fundraising Online, for the reconstruction of Villa de Sanctis, counts over 16 thousand euros in a few.