Eleven former executives of Miteni, a chemical company based in Trissino, have been found guilty by the Court of Assizes in Vicenza for causing one of Italy’s worst environmental disasters. At the heart of the case was the uncontrolled release of PFAS—extremely toxic and long-lasting chemicals—that polluted groundwater in the provinces of Vicenza, Padua, and Verona, putting the health of over 350,000 people at risk.The total prison sentences handed down add up to 141 years. Some top managers received up to 17 years. The charges included poisoning of water, environmental catastrophe, and fraudulent bankruptcy. The Ministry of the Environment has been granted €58 million in compensation, which will fund cleanup operations in the contaminated areas.After four years and more than 130 hearings, the trial set an important legal precedent in Italy. It sent a clear message: polluting with impunity has serious consequences, especially when public health and entire ecosystems are at stake.
Massimo Serresi
