Valle Caudina tomatoes found to contain lead traces

Traces of lead have been detected in tomatoes grown by several farms in the Valle Caudina region of Italy. The presence of the heavy metal was identified through analyses conducted by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno di Portici on samples provided by the Asl di Avellino.

The contamination affects agricultural products from the municipalities of San Martino Valle Caudina, Roccabascerana, Rotondi, and Cervinara. These areas were impacted by an industrial site fire in Airola on August 31. Consequently, a ban on consuming fruits and vegetables potentially exposed to pollutants remains in effect in these four municipalities as authorities continue to monitor the situation.