Campi Flegrei at risk from three toxic gases, the Region's plan: evacuation and hospitals in safe areas.
Peaceless Campi Flegrei . A new environmental alarm adds to the well-known volcanic and bradyseism dangers in the area affected by a succe…
Campi Flegrei at risk from three toxic gases, the Region's plan: evacuation and hospitals in safe areas.
Peaceless Campi Flegrei . A new environmental alarm adds to the well-known volcanic and bradyseism dangers in the area affected by a succession of earthquakes (the last strongest shock was on Friday 10 May, with a magnitude of 3.7): it is the "geochemical risk", closely linked to emissions of potentially dangerous gases for the local population. According to the health plan of the Campania Region reported by Repubblica, «on the basis of the information available up to now on the emissions of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide , it is not possible to ignore the consideration of a chemical risk of exposure for a widespread contamination of the ambient air not known a priori in quantitative terms".
The affected area
The strategy adopted concerns the area between Solfatara and via Pisciarelli, identified as "potentially dangerous". However, the authorities' approach is preventive and measured: «Organize collective prevention following the assessment of air quality». Furthermore, drastic measures such as "removal to a safe area" are not excluded from the plan, especially for healthcare facilities.
Toxic gases
The document focuses extensively on the "emissions of toxic gases", underlining that "The toxicity of the three gases has been widely discussed in the literature and the health effects and symptoms correlated to different concentration levels are known".
Although no significant changes have been detected in recent reports, the situation remains under observation: "the exposure scenarios are complex, even potentially very dangerous". The investigations into the geochemical risk are strengthened by a collaboration between the Federico II University and the Metropolitan City of Naples, aimed at "deepening the main causes of anomalous accumulation levels of carbon dioxide". This need clearly emerges from the 2018 accident, when a worker died from asphyxiation due to high levels of CO2, with analyzes confirming that "the gas taken from the elevator shaft is of exclusive natural origin (volcanic-hydrothermal)".
Evacuation and hospitals
The emergency plan, updated to April 14 and followed by a "precise address from President Vincenzo De Luca", covers geochemical risk scenarios in addition to the more traditional ones linked to volcanism and bradyseism. It includes detailed arrangements for the evacuation of hospital patients, with 1506 people spread across hospitals and retirement homes ready to be transferred to secure facilities in the event of an emergency.
Last night on Striscia la nuova Luca Abete returned to dealing with the Campi Flegrei emergency after the recent earthquakes which brought the need for an emergency plan in the event of evacuation back to the center of attention. A need already invoked in 2015 by the correspondent of the satirical news program and beyond. In this period, an update of the plan that has
