Health impact assessment of steel plant activities in Taranto, Italy

ABSTRACT

A steel production plant in Taranto, south-east Italy, has been active since the 1960s and is one of the major steel facilities in Europe. It represents an important resource for the region and the country in terms of economy and employment. For several decades, the plant has been known to have an adverse environmental impact, with substantial emissions of various pollutants, which affect a wide area, including densely populated areas such as the city of Taranto. Taranto and nearby municipalities are included on an Italian Government list of “sites of interest” for environmental contamination. The impacts on human health have been studied extensively over the years. Excess occurrences of numerous diseases and of mortality have been documented repeatedly, representing a concerning health profile for the local population. The impacts of the steel plant on health have been quantified most reliably for emissions into the air, which have been closely monitored for many years. Within the WHO project described in this report, the available estimates were updated, alternative means of industrial production and emission were assessed, and the health impact analysis was complemented with an economic assessment. The findings confirm the previous estimates. The estimated predictable impacts on mortality and morbidity and the associated costs are a function of predicted changes in the concentrations of pollutants in different scenarios. For example, 27 deaths per year are estimated for men and women older than 30 years living in Taranto municipality in the least favourable scenario, while the figure decreases to 5 deaths in the most favourable scenario. These figures are a partial view of the overall health impact; other important pathways, such as contamination of soil, water, waste and food, cannot currently be quantified reliably. The important dimensions of quality of life, the urban environment and green spaces are also affected by the industrial policies of the plant, and the impact on these aspects should be thoroughly assessed to fulfil the imperatives of the Sustainable Development Agenda.