Teano – A devastating fire at the Campania Energia waste storage facility in Teano has left a trail of toxic smoke and serious consequences for local farmers.
The flames, which devoured 40.000 square meters of materials, mostly plastic, released alarming levels of dioxins, furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls into the air, as confirmed by data from ARPAC.
With a value of 0,27 pg/Nm³ I-TEQ, almost double the scientific limit of 0,15, the pollution has prompted the mayor of Teano, Giovanni Scoglio, to sign an ordinance prohibiting the harvesting of fruit and vegetables in the surrounding fields, including the Riardo area. The alarm has been raised for local crops, which represent the economic heart of this part of Campania.
In Teano, hazelnuts, protected by their shells, appear to be safe from microplastics, but in Riardo, silage corn and prized Annurca apples risk irreparable damage. "We are facing a environmental disaster which is hitting farmers hard,” said Enrico Amico, president of Coldiretti Caserta, who urgently asked the Campania Region to set up a technical committee to quantify the damage and provide compensation for the affected companies.
"We cannot abandon our farmers, already battered by years of crisis and toxic fires," he added. The blaze, which transformed the area into a cloud of acrid smoke, brings to the fore the tragedy of the "land of fires," where waste management remains an open wound. Investigations are underway to identify those responsible for a fire that, according to Coldiretti, "cannot remain unaccounted for."
The association has announced its intention to join the legal proceedings as a civil party alongside the institutions, ready to defend the rights of farmers whose crops are threatened by an avoidable disaster. For the farmers of Teano and Riardo, the mayor's ordinance represents a severe blow.
"We can't harvest, we can't sell. It's as if our jobs were taken away from us overnight," says Antonio, a local farmer who prefers not to reveal his last name.
The fear is that the damage will not be limited to the fields, but will also undermine consumer confidence in local products, already strained by years of environmental emergencies. Authorities are monitoring air and soil quality, while Arpac will continue its investigations to assess the extent of the pollution.
Meanwhile, Coldiretti Caserta is raising its voice, calling for rapid and concrete action. "We need an extraordinary commitment to protect our land and those who work it," Amico concluded. Campania, once again, is dealing with the consequences of a toxic fire, while farmers await answers and justice.
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Comments (1)
The fire that broke out in Teano caused serious damage to farmers. It's worrying that waste is being managed so irresponsibly, especially in a vulnerable region like Campania. More attention is needed.