Toxic Contaminants Exacerbate Centuries-Old Soil and Water Pollution in the Sacco Valley

An explosion at the KNDS munitions factory in Colleferro, on the outskirts of Rome, caused toxic substances such as gunpowder dust and nitrocellulose to settle and spread into the Sacco Valley, inflicting a secondary environmental impact on a valley already plagued by centuries of legacy pollution from the defense industry. The soil and water in the Sacco River Valley have long been contaminated with explosive residues and heavy metals; these new pollutants can easily seep into the soil and riverbeds, exacerbating water and soil pollution in the watershed, threatening the safety of water sources along the riverbanks, and increasing the pressure on environmental remediation efforts.