WORLD WORLDWIDE ITALY SICILIA News Journal Update - (en) Italy, Sicilia Libertaria, May: Biancavilla Etnea. Asbestos and its relatives - Exploitation and territory. (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 Last March, the safety and environmental restoration works of the former Monte

Calvario quarry began, in the town south-west of Etna. An event that the people
of Biancaville have been waiting for for a long time, after the enormous
repercussions that the exploitation of the geo-site has left on the population
and the territory. A story closely related to that of building speculation, in a
cause-and-effect relationship dictated by the logic of profit. The Monte Calvario
quarry was opened in the 1950s, following the discovery of a friable stone which,
cut, ground and mixed with cement and plaster, proved to be suitable for the
construction of buildings and various structures. --It was discovered that this
stone has unique characteristics because it contains a rare fibrous mineral,
similar to asbestos. A material without a name for a long time, later referred to
as fluoroedenite. The period from the 60s to the 80s of the twentieth century saw
the apex of the extraction of this mineral, later defined as "killer". There was
no question of the impact that the works at the Monte Calvario quarry could have,
both on the territory and on the health of the citizens. What mattered in those
decades was to carry on the idea of economic progress, with the growth of urban
spaces in Biancavilla. Many buildings and neighborhoods were built without a
well-adapted urban plan, so much so that the dirt roads remained. The whole new
part of the town built with stone from Monte Calvario. Roads, houses and even the
floor of the sports field were built with the killer mineral. The dust of the
material stirred up along the streets of the town, due to the passing vehicles,
as well as the trucks that picked up and transported the material. It was even
possible to find it on the ground, near the quarry. A stone of volcanic origin
considered softer than other volcanic rocks, but with a consequent harmful use.

Between the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s, the Higher Institute
of Health (ISS) conducted a survey on cases of pleural mesothelioma. It emerged
that Biancavilla, despite its economy being predominantly agricultural and not
industrial, had a significant number of cases. A survey repeated every five years
to observe the health risks posed by asbestos; at the time it was surprising that
the Etna town had so many cases of pleural cancer. The re-reading of data and
medical records began which confirmed the situation. It also emerged, and this
also in the following years, that many cases of mesothelioma involved women and
young people. An unusual aspect as men, for work reasons, are more exposed to the
material.

Fluoroedenite dust reached everywhere, nestled in the innermost corners of houses
and streets. Excavations were found at any point in the town and the health of
the people of Biancaville paid the price. From 1988 to today 58 have died from
pleural mesothelioma, since then three cases every year. Carmelo Petralia
dell'Arpa (Regional Agency for the protection of the environment) has
hypothesized that among the main causes of the leakage of dust from the quarry
are the works, in the mid-1980s, for the methanization. Meanwhile, in the 1990s
the cases of pleural mesothelioma continued and so in 1997 the ISS set up a
working group together with the Region of Sicily, the Municipality of Biancavilla
and the ASP. The intent was to discover the cause of the contamination. A
municipal official competent in geology proposed to examine the dust from the
Monte Calvario quarry.

A shocking discovery, seen as an attack on public health, even if it was
initially thought to be asbestos. The ISS ordered the region and the municipal
administration to close the quarry and remove the debris near the still
unfinished structures. In fact, they still wanted to continue building,
regardless of an already announced critical situation. The quarry extraction
activity was under concession to a Biancavillese family, Lacava (ironically). The
owner accused the then administration of scaremongering. Others believed it was a
political ploy. But the data spoke for itself: the Monte Calvario quarry was
dangerous for public health.

In 2001, professor Antonio Gianfragna coined the term fluoroedenite, referring to
a yellowish crystal that is curious to observe but harmful to use. The 2000s saw
gradual emergency interventions, with the fencing of the quarry in 2001. It was
necessary to remove all traces of dust in the town, with radical measures. All
paved roads, the facades of public buildings redone, as well as the surface of
the sports field. All this was possible when Biancavilla was included in 2002
among the sites of national interest for reclamation, thus receiving public
funding. Monte Calvario is a site of great geological importance. Fluoredenite
arouses interest due to its morphological composition, of light gray stones with
small yellowish crystals; and chemical, due to its relevant quantities of
fluorine and sodium. Since 2001 the material has been in the lists of the
International Association of Mineralogy. After years of specific and in-depth
studies, in 2014 the Airc (International Agency for Research on Cancer) defines
fluoroedenitis as a class 1 agent, i.e. definitely carcinogenic. The restoration
works of the former quarry were designed to make Monte Calvario an urban park and
preserve the trees in the area.

In a socio-economic context without capitalist exploitation, with consequent
speculation, none of this would have happened. Cities and towns would take on a
more human dimension: illegal buildings, moreover, are among the main causes of
overheating in urban spaces, as they retain heat. The Biancavilla situation
should constitute a reflection on the damage caused by the idea that it is
necessary to increase profits, no matter if to the detriment of the community.
Furthermore, the story calls for a move towards environmental justice. The human
being is part of Mother Nature, but still continues to consider himself above
all. An attitude exercised both by those in power and by individuals alienated by
the consumerist mentality.

Angela Strano

https://www.sicilialibertaria.it/
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