PFAS in Italy: The Past and Current Situation

PFAS began to be recognised as a global issue in the 2000s. In 2006, the European PERFORCE project aimed to inspect PFAS levels in European rivers, and the Italian Po River was found to have the highest concentration of PFOA. [1,2]

The Agency for Environmental Prevention and Protection of the Veneto Region (ARPAV) after further measurements, identified an area covering three provinces (Vicenza, Padova, and Verona) with high levels of PFAS in groundwater, freshwater, and drinking water, putting thousands of inhabitants at risk. [1,2]

In 2013, it was discovered that the source of contamination was an industrial plant located in Trissino (province of Vicenza) that had been active for more than 50 years. Waste had been released into the environment as there were no specific safety measures and regulations. Following this, activated carbon filters were installed in the area’s water distribution system. [1,2]

In 2016, PFAS levels were analysed in a sample of people: locals had PFOA levels eight times higher than those of non-exposed individuals. Consequently, in 2017, a Health Surveillance Plan started for citizens in the “red area”. Thousands of people were found to have incredibly high levels of 12 types of PFAS. [1,2]

The following table shows different PFAS levels and the clinical guidance for patient follow-up after PFAS testing

This table, on the other hand, shows the PFAS levels found in 15,720 subjects aged 20–39 years who were analysed. These individuals were recruited through the regional Health Surveillance Program. [3]

Figure – The provinces of Vicenza, Padova, and Verona were divided into three groups, based on contamination levels. These are commonly referred to as the “Red area”, “Orange area”, and “Yellow area”. The “Red area” alone covers an area of 180 km 2.

In 2018, the plant responsible for the disaster was shut down, and in 2021, the trial against the plant’s managers began and is still ongoing as of 2024, reflecting the gravity of the situation. It is crucial as the contaminated area is expected to expand further due to water mobility, emphasising the need for accountability and remediation [1,2].

In 2024, studies confirmed that between 1980 and 2018, 4,000 more deaths than expected occurred in the area (51,621 observed deaths vs. 47,731 expected deaths). An increase in mortality from cardiovascular diseases, kidney cancer, and testicular cancer was identified. [4]

References

1. Giglioli S, Colombo L, Azzellino A. Cluster and multivariate analysis to study the diffuse contamination of emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Veneto Region plain (North-eastern Italy). Chemosphere. 2023 Apr 1;319:137916.
2. Menegatto M, Lezzi S, Musolino M, Zamperini A. The Psychological Impact of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution in the Veneto Region, Italy: A Qualitative Study with Parents. Int J Environ Res Public Health [Internet]. 2022;19(22). Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/1660- 4601/19/22/14761
3. Canova C, Barbieri G, Zare Jeddi M, Gion M, Fabricio A, Daprà F, et al. Associations between perfluoroalkyl substances and lipid profile in a highly exposed young adult population in the Veneto Region. Environ Int. 2020 Dec 1;145:106117.
4. Wackett LP. Why Is the Biodegradation of Polyfluorinated Compounds So Rare? mSphere. 2021 Oct 13;6(5):10.1128/msphere.00721-21.