Investigations by the Cagliari Public Prosecutor’s Office have confirmed that the Fluorsid plant in the Macchiareddu industrial area (Cagliari) has repeatedly spilled acid sludge into the adjacent Santa Gilla lagoon, contaminating the groundwater with heavy metals and compounds such as fluorides and sulphates.

In addition to the discharge into the lagoon, investigators have also found that the management of the company has apparently buried hazardous waste such as fluorosilicate, asbestos and chloride, resulting in heavy environmental contamination.

These illegal practices have affected the sheep of the Macchiareddu grasslands, which have contracted fluorosis (a disease that causes serious damage to bones and teeth).

Given the already significant environmental contamination and the fact that the Santa Gilla lagoon is part of the site of Community importance (SCI) ITB040023, can the Commission say what measures it intends to take to ensure the conservation of the lagoon site?