Perspectives and Experiences of PFAS Contamination within the Agricultural Sector: An Ethnographic Investigation in the Veneto Region

Abstract

This Master's thesis centers around an ethnographic investigation conducted within the agricultural sector in regions affected by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in the Veneto region, Italy. In 2013, research identified the Rimar-Miteni Spa chemical plant (1965-2018), located in Trissino, Vicenza, as the source of this environmental disaster. PFAS are human-made chemicals considered endocrine disruptors, associated with numerous medical conditions, and deemed ubiquitous. These human-made substances have been discharged for decades, polluting the water cycle, the food chain, and the living organisms in an area spanning the provinces of Vicenza, Verona, and Padova. This dissertation comprises two main sections. The first part provides a historical description of the contamination and the background of these chemicals. Within the context of Veneto region, the historical and ecological dimensions of the contamination will be examined, considering PFAS’s ability to traverse the water cycle and their (eco)toxicity. In the second section, this research delves into the perspectives and experiences of farmers operating within the affected areas. Remarkably, no prior anthropological research has been conducted to address the impact of this contamination on farmers in this context. To accomplish this, I conducted semi-structured interviews and engaged in participant observations, visiting seven agricultural businesses from November 2022 to March 2023.