This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/30/italy-ilva-steel-factory-cancer
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Italian steelworks accused over cancers wins reprieve | Italian steelworks accused over cancers wins reprieve |
| (4 months later) | |
| The Italian government has saved a polluting steelworks in southern Italy blamed for raising rates of some cancers among locals by more than 50%. | The Italian government has saved a polluting steelworks in southern Italy blamed for raising rates of some cancers among locals by more than 50%. |
| Mario Monti's cabinet allowed owners at the ILVA plant in Taranto – Europe's largest steelworks – six years to carry out a clean-up, despite a magistrate's order to partly shut down the plant while improvements were made, and despite the arrest of seven managers over claims they covered up evidence of emissions blamed for hundreds of deaths. | Mario Monti's cabinet allowed owners at the ILVA plant in Taranto – Europe's largest steelworks – six years to carry out a clean-up, despite a magistrate's order to partly shut down the plant while improvements were made, and despite the arrest of seven managers over claims they covered up evidence of emissions blamed for hundreds of deaths. |
| Ministers feared a shutdown would endanger 12,000 jobs at the plant and seriously damage the Italian economy since ILVA produces more than 8m tonnes of steel a year, 30% of the country's output. | Ministers feared a shutdown would endanger 12,000 jobs at the plant and seriously damage the Italian economy since ILVA produces more than 8m tonnes of steel a year, 30% of the country's output. |
| Monti said the decree saving the plant would protect "the environment, health and jobs". | Monti said the decree saving the plant would protect "the environment, health and jobs". |
| ILVA management had warned that if the Taranto plant was closed, then its other Italian plants would shut. Staff in Taranto occupied the plant this week to protest against magistrates' efforts to reduce production, while ILVA employees from Genoa marched in Rome. | ILVA management had warned that if the Taranto plant was closed, then its other Italian plants would shut. Staff in Taranto occupied the plant this week to protest against magistrates' efforts to reduce production, while ILVA employees from Genoa marched in Rome. |
| The decree requires the firm to spend around €3bn (£2.4bn) on cleaning up emissions, a health ministry spokesman said, but it allows the plant to continue operating while doing so. | The decree requires the firm to spend around €3bn (£2.4bn) on cleaning up emissions, a health ministry spokesman said, but it allows the plant to continue operating while doing so. |
| "It is a licence to continue pumping out pollution which is provoking deaths," said Angelo Bonelli, leader of the Italian Green party. | "It is a licence to continue pumping out pollution which is provoking deaths," said Angelo Bonelli, leader of the Italian Green party. |
| Investigators launched an inquiry into the site after a 30% overall spike in local cancer rates, with liver cancer up by 75% and upper uterine cancer up by 80%. | Investigators launched an inquiry into the site after a 30% overall spike in local cancer rates, with liver cancer up by 75% and upper uterine cancer up by 80%. |
| Investigators suspect that officials at the environment ministry under the government of Silvio Berlusconi colluded with ILVA in 2010 to allow it to pass environmental checks. | Investigators suspect that officials at the environment ministry under the government of Silvio Berlusconi colluded with ILVA in 2010 to allow it to pass environmental checks. |
| A company official is also accused of bribing a local expert to tone down a critical report on pollution. | A company official is also accused of bribing a local expert to tone down a critical report on pollution. |
| A lawyer for ILVA has denied the plant is linked to the cancer rates. | A lawyer for ILVA has denied the plant is linked to the cancer rates. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |