Vicenza, 6 May 2024 – Alarm is growing over the PFAS contamination of water in the Vicenza area after the publication of mortality data in the most affected Veneto area. “Almost 4 thousand more deaths in 34 years in the red area caused by Pfas”. This is what emerges from a study published recently on scientific journal Environmental Health, which revealed the devastating impact of contamination by per-fluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances on the mortality of the population residing in the most affected Veneto municipalities. This was announced by the No Pfas Mothers’ Group provinces of Vicenza, Padua and Veronaaccording to which “in 2013 a large-scale water contamination was discovered in Veneto which was of major concern 30 municipalities of the three provinces, where PFAS have been detected in worrying concentrations in surface, underground and drinking water, poisoning around 350 thousand people”.
An activist against the “PFAS danger” (archive photo)
Research
The research, conducted by Professor Annibale Biggeri, together with his team atUniversity of Paduain collaboration with the Emilia-Romagna Cancer Registrythe Statistical Service of the Higher Institute of Health and with the contribution of “Citizen Science” of the Mamme No Pfas group, highlights that from 1985 to 2018 a has been registered excess of over 3,800 deaths compared to expected, one more death every 3 days. In particular, for the first time, a causal association between exposure to Pfas and a high risk of death for cardiovascular diseases. According to the study to be young people are most affected. “Through the analysis of the different age classes – it is specified – it was highlighted an increase in risk of onset of tumor diseases as age decreases: the younger population, exposed to Pfas already during childhood, is the one that pays the highest price”.
