Over 200 polluted sites in Calabria, say Legambiente and Libera

Bruno Gualtieri, the past commissioner of Arrical, has expressed concern regarding the data concerning environmental crimes released by Legambiente and Libera. He calls attention to the hazardous condition of polluted areas in Calabria, which pose a threat to public health. Calabria has the highest incidence of environmental crimes in Italy, with fifty-nine instances of environmental disasters reported between 2015 and 2024, as well as 221 polluted locations that have not undergone complete cleanup. These data were presented at the Legambiente and Libera forum, ‘The Truth is in the Earth’, which highlights the issues of illegal waste disposal sites, unauthorised industrial emissions, and the illegal movement of hazardous waste. These issues harm the environment and endanger well-being. Professor Alessandro Marinelli, an expert in environmental medicine at the ‘Magna Græcia University’ of Catanzaro, affirms that the correlation between locations polluted with heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and POPs (persistent organic compounds) and health risks is scientifically established. The Crotone SIN case is a clear example, with notable increases in deaths and hospital admissions for various illnesses, resulting in direct healthcare costs of over fifty million euros in the past decade. Mr. Gualtieri suggests that Calabria is a primary battleground in the effort to combat eco-mafias. An extensive illicit trade in waste materials exists, characterized by connections between unethical corporations, cooperative government bodies, and organized criminal enterprises.