A plant owned by the chemical company BASF in a suburb of Rome, Italy, may be linked to elevated cancer deaths among residents living nearby. The plant recycles chemical catalysts and local activists are seeking to shut it down. But BASF says the facility is in line with relevant international environmental standards and that it has been given a clean bill of health by Italian health authorities. Activists say that plant emissions may be causing higher than average levels of dioxins found in the area. As the dispute continues, the local population -- including children in a kindergarten 400 meters away from the plant -- continue to be exposed to potentially toxic emissions. Italian correspondent Gianluca Martelliano filed this original investigative report.

A plant owned by the chemical company BASF in a suburb of Rome, Italy, may be linked to elevated cancer deaths among residents living nearby. The plant recycles chemical catalysts and local activists are seeking to shut it down. But BASF says the facility is in line with relevant international environmental standards and that it has been given a clean bill of health by Italian health authorities. Activists say that plant emissions may be causing higher than average levels of dioxins found in the area. As the dispute continues, the local population -- including children in a kindergarten 400 meters away from the plant -- continue to be exposed to potentially toxic emissions. Italian correspondent Gianluca Martelliano filed this original investigative report.