Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ROME728
2006-03-09 07:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

EU CLASSIFICATION OF BORATES: ITALY WITH THE U.S.

Tags:  ETRD BEXP SENV KSCA IT FAO 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS ROME 000728 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR USDOC (4211/MAC/OEURA - LEE LACHOS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD BEXP SENV KSCA IT FAO
SUBJECT: EU CLASSIFICATION OF BORATES: ITALY WITH THE U.S.

REFTEL: USDOC 00939 (NOTAL)

UNCLAS ROME 000728

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR USDOC (4211/MAC/OEURA - LEE LACHOS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD BEXP SENV KSCA IT FAO
SUBJECT: EU CLASSIFICATION OF BORATES: ITALY WITH THE U.S.

REFTEL: USDOC 00939 (NOTAL)


1. On March 3, Post sent reftel demarche to Dr. Mariano Alessi
at the Ministry of Health's Prevention Directorate, to Dr.
Roberto Binetti of the Higher Institute of Health's Toxic
Substances Department, and to Dr. Giuliana Gasparrini of the
Environment Ministry's Office of EU Affairs. On March 7, SCI
specialist spoke with Dr. Alessi, who responded that Italy did
not support the EU proposal to classify borates as Category 2
reproductive toxicants. The GOI, supported only by Portugal, had
unsuccessfully tried to persuade the EU to postpone the decision
until the results of the Austrian Competent Authority's risk
assessment. Dr. Alessi thought it was likely that the EU would
go ahead with the decision to place borates and boric acid in
Category 2.


2. In Italy, the population in Tuscany's Lardarello region is
overexposed to borates from the natural steam, which is harnessed
to produce geothermal energy. The steam contains a large load of
dissolved minerals, including borates. For a long period prior
to 1965, several thousand tons per year of borates were produced
from the steam. Moreover, the potable water in almost all of
Tuscany contains higher levels of borates than the WHO
recommendation. Dr. Alessi emphasized that no health-related
side effects have been noticed. To confirm this, the GOI has
begun an epidemiological survey in the Lardarello area to detect
any abnormal incidences of birth defects, birth-mortality,
infertility, etc. The GOI also tried unsuccessfully to convince
the EU to postpone the decision until the results of this study.
SPOGLI