Naples trash crisis prompts talks of relocation

[unhappycamper]

The U.S. Navy support site base at Gricignano is not immune to the trash crisis that has gripped the southern Italian city of Naples, plagued by uncollected trash that has soiled the city’s image on the world stage. The Italian military will descend on the support site on Thursday to help get rid of the mounds of uncollected garbage.


Naples trash crisis prompts talks of relocation
By Sandra Jontz, and Lisa M. Novak, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Thursday, February 7, 2008

NAPLES, Italy — The Navy would consider relocating some sailors and their families if health studies show that the continuing trash crisis in the city poses short or long-term health risks.

While details for any plans still are too premature to discuss, Navy officials want people living in the area to know that relocation is an option that the Navy is taking seriously, said Lt. Cmdr. Wendy Snyder, a spokeswoman for Navy Region Europe.

A team of U.S. environmental and health experts are in Naples working with their Italian counterparts to review previous health studies and determine what, if any, health risks are associated with living in the Naples area.

But their analysis just started, and it is much too early to make any fact-based conclusions, Snyder said.

The U.S. team is made up of scientists, epidemiologists, physicians, environmental engineers, and others from the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, formally known as the Navy Environmental Health Center.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=52271