Rosignano Solvay

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Rosignano Solvay is a frazione (detached borough) of Rosignano Marittimo, Tuscany, Italy, located some 25 km from Livorno.

It houses the White Beaches (Italian: Spiagge bianche), whose sand is formed by limestone (calcium carbonate) (90%) and calcium sulfate (10%) due the soda ash production of the nearby Solvay since 1914.^[1]

Sights include the Teatro Solvay, two Etruscan museums and the Villaggio Solvay residential complex.

Solvay Chemical Endangerment of Beaches and Mediterranean Sea

Bloomberg Businessweek has produce an exposé profiling history of chemical deposits in the region by Solvay that has profoundly affected the beaches and local population. The impact on the local environment is visible from space as seen on Google Maps ^[2] Solvay claim there are no problematic consequences. Watch the exposé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkZZOYeKr7o ^[3]

Another exposé by France24 interviews local residents directly affected by the chemical dump. ^[4] Watch the exposé: https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/reporters/20230505-italy-s-toxic-paradise-the-beaches-of-rosignano-solvay

The Financial Times published an article outlining the environmental (ESG) pollution caused by Solvay ^[5] Link: https://www.ft.com/content/fb129666-dc85-48ff-a9c8-3bfa87a715ca

Solvay website claims that the effluents contain natural limestone as well as other inert, suspended solids such as gypsum, sand and clay.^[6]

== United Nations Report == https://www.unep.org/

According to a report published in 1999 ^[7] by the United Nations Environment Programme ^[8], the Spiagge Bianche has been among the 15 most polluted coastal sites on the Mediterranean Sea.^[9] Hotspots are evaluated based on the impact of the civil and industrial discharges regarding the quality of the local seawater, drinking water, recreational activities, the economy and social welfare.

A further special report by Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes was submitted on 13 July 2022 ^[10]

In 2016 a study was conducted on the mortality rate compared to the regional average for the same period;^[11] The study concludes shows an excess of mortality for chronic-degenerative diseases in the area but concludes that it is not possible to establish a causal link between environmental pollution and an increase in mortality.

Ongoing Legal Challenge

Italy's prosecutors investigate ex-minister over Solvay plant licence -sources (Reuters) ^[12]

References

^ "Rosignano Marittimo e le spiagge bianche". informazioni.terradeglietruschi.it. Archived from the original on 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
^ "Google Maps satellite view of white beaches in Rosignano". Google Maps. 17 June 2024.
^ "Bloomberg Business exposé "This White Italian Beach Has a Dark Secret"". YouTube. 9 May 2022.
^ "France24 exposé "Italy's toxic paradise: The beaches of Rosignano Solvay"". France24. 5 May 2023.
^ "Financial Times article "Italy's toxic paradise: The beaches of Rosignano Solvay"". Financial Times. 22 December 2020.
^ "Solvay's soda ash production in Rosignano". Solvay. 25 October 2022.
^ "Report of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Marcos Orellana, on his visit to Italy". United Nations. 13 July 2022.
^ "United Nations Environment Programme Website". United Nations Environment Programme.
^ "SOLVAY DI ROSIGNANO IN UN VIDEO". medicinademocraticalivorno.it. Archived from the original on 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
^ "Report of the Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Marcos Orellana, on his visit to Italy" (PDF). United Nations. 13 July 2022.
^ Marabotti, Claudio; Piaggi, Paolo; Scarsi, P.; Venturini, Elio; Cecchi, Romina; Pingitore, Alessandro (2017-05-24). "Mortality for chronic-degenerative diseases in Tuscany: Ecological study comparing neighboring areas with substantial differences in environmental pollution". International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health. 30 (4): 641–653. doi:10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00972. hdl:11568/925480. PMID 28584327. Archived from the original on 2021-09-07. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
^ "Reuters article Italy's prosecutors investigate ex-minister over Solvay plant licence -sources". Reuters. 21 August 2023.