PVC MANAGERS GET AWAY WITH MANSLAUGHTER AND CAUSING ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER

2 November 2001

Rome/London: Greenpeace declared today to be "a dark day for environmental justice" as twenty eight senior managers of petrochemical companies Enichem and Montedison were acquitted of charges of mass manslaughter and environmental disaster by an Italian court this afternoon. The managers had been accused of mismanaging their VCM and PVC production plants, causing cancer amongst PVC workers and environmental disaster in the Venice Lagoon.

"This is a dark day for environmental justice and for workers and communities around the world whose lives are blighted by exposure to toxic pollution caused by PVC manufacturing and production. If industries are not held accountable for their environmental crimes, they will continue to poison workers, communities and the environment around the world. Today's society should no longer tolerate this," said Domitilla Senni, Executive Director of Greenpeace Italy, outside the court room in Mestre, Venice.

Greenpeace activists held a silent protest outside the courtroom today out of respect for the hundreds of Enichem and Montedison workers that have died or fallen ill as a result of the companies' polluting practices (2). The case was instigated by the workers when, in 1994, a retired PVC worker, Gabriele Bortolozzo, approached public prosecutor Felice Casson in Venice accusing the petrochemical companies of negligence and complaining that many workers were falling ill.

Greenpeace analysis, published in 1995, revealed that sediment in the Venice Lagoon is amongst the most contaminated with dioxins in the world (3). The report led to further investigations into the state of the industrial area of the Lagoon. These resulted in charges of environmental damage and food contamination being leveled against the petrochemical company managers. Dioxins had been released by Montedison and are still being poured into the Lagoon by Enichem and other industries of Porto Marghera, that use chlorine as part of their manufacturing processes.

In December 1996, after Casson published a list of 257 victims of the industries and submitted another 116 names of people who had already died as a consequence of the substances they had been working with, the managers were also charged with manslaughter. Medical records, together with internal company notes, indicate that the companies knew the risks their production processes posed as early as 1972. The trial started on 13th of March 1998.

"The Venice Lagoon is just one of many areas around the world that are being poisoned by irresponsible companies and, sadly, these Italian workers represent just some of many that are suffering as a result (4). Despite today's ruling, Greenpeace will continue to expose the dangers posed by industries that use and produce chlorine and do whatever it can to protect the environment and communities around the world. There is no place for dirty production in the 21st century," concluded Senni.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Fabrizio Fabbri, Scientific Director, Greenpeace Italy on +39 348 3988616
Domitilla Senni, Executive Director, Greenpeace Italy on + 39 333 2794047
Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International press desk on + 31 6 535 04701
FOOTAGE AND STILLS OF TODAY'S DEMONSTRATION AND COURT HEARING AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
video: Mim Lowe on + 31 653 504721
Stills: John Novis on + 31 653 819121

(1) Enichem and Montedison have both been involved with the manufacture of VCM (vinyl chloride monomer), a key component in PVC plastic, in Porto Marghera.

(2) Greenpeace has been campaigning against chemical pollution in the Venice Lagoon for over a decade, since it first became concerned over dioxin levels in the area. The environmental organisation acted as plaintiff in the trial, providing scientific information to the court. (3) The Greenpeace analysis can be found at http://archive.greenpeace.org/toxics/reports/Venice.pdf

(4) Communities in Mossville, Louisiana, are also suffering high rates of cancers and other pollution related diseases. The industrial corridor stretching from Baton Rouge south to New Orleans along the Mississippi River, commonly known as "Cancer Alley," is home to more than 140 petrochemical producers and users. Across the state, Lake Charles has a concentration of over 40 petrochemical-related facilities.