Dioxin in venice leads to indictments

[charlie.cray@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      dioxin-l@essential.org
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Maybe this kind of thing should happen around the US VCM plants that have
damaged Louisiana and Texas:
 
Indictments sought in Venice lagoon pollution case  VENICE, Dec
12 (Reuter) - Venice's public prosecutor on Thursday sought the
indictments of 25 former chemical company executives on charges
relating to pollution of the north-eastern city's lagoon.
     Prosecutor Felice Casson said he had asked an examining
judge to order trials for ex-directors of Montedison, Enichem and
the defunct Enimont venture which operate, or operated in the
past, the Porto Marghera industrial complex on the mainland shore
of Venice's lagoon.
     The specific charges were not revealed, but Casson said the
case related to an investigation to determine who was responsible
for the discharge of chemical products into the lagoon from the
Porto Marghera complex.
     The examining judge will hold a hearing on March 3 before
ruling on Casson's request.
     Independent scientists and the environmental group

Greenpeace confirmed in August that toxic dioxins were present in
the lagoon, including the famed Grand Canal.
     They said high levels of dioxins were found around the Porto
Marghera complex and lower levels in other areas of the lagoon.
     Dioxins are found in weedkillers and bleaching agents. They
can cause cancer, liver and kidney diseases and birth defects.
  REUTER
 

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