The Rome Court has ordered the Ministry of Defense to pay 600 euros in compensation to the family of Caserta soldier Leopoldo Di Vico , who died after a long illness due to cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens.
Asbestos and depleted uranium, the death of the soldier Di Vico
Di Vico died at just 58 years old in March 2015, leaving behind his wife Anna Mostacci and two sons Mario and Giuseppe , aged 27 and 31 at the time.
A tough battle for the lieutenant of the Italian Army , another victim of depleted uranium bullets , heavy metals , and asbestos , which caused the onset of urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis.
Initially, the Ministry of Defense had denied recognition of the cause of service and the status of victim of duty, which was only recognized after his death following a legal dispute led by the President of the National Asbestos Observatory , Attorney Ezio Bonanni , who had legally assisted the soldier when he was still alive.
ONA President: “Finally, but it won’t bring him back to life”
"When Leopoldo was buried, we still remember the Italian Army's honor guard ," Bonanni declared . " Finally, now comes the sentence, including compensation for damages, which, however, will not bring back the victim, one of the many victims of the Balkan syndrome."
“For years, the association has been denouncing the risks associated with depleted uranium, radiation and the resulting nanoparticles, which have caused no fewer than 400 deaths from haemolymphopoietic tumours alone among all those employed on missions abroad ,” underlines the ONA President.
