RESUMO
The methodology of health impact assessment (HIA), originally proposed by WHO, is widely used to predict the potential health effects in a community living in a place in which a new project (e.g., an industrial plant) will be implemented. One of the key quantities to calculate the impact (i.e., the number of attributable cases) is the baseline (i.e., before the project implementation) rate of selected diseases in the community. In a recent paper on this journal, this methodology has been challenged. Specifically, the use of baseline rate has been questioned, proposing to use only the fraction of the baseline rate due to the exposures related to the project, and not the rate due to all risk factors for the disease. In this commentary, we argue that the proposal is logically and epidemiologically unsound, and devoid of scientific motivation. The conclusion that the traditional approach overestimates the health impact should be rejected as based on flawed assumptions. On the contrary, the proposal may produce a (seriously biased) underestimation of attributable cases.
Assuntos
Avaliação do Impacto na Saúde , Avaliação do Impacto na Saúde/métodos , HumanosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Particulate matter (PM) is the most efficient vehicle for the inhalation and absorption of toxic substances into the body. METHOD: The present study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that PM10 samples collected on quartz filters exert an angiogenic activity in vivo in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. RESULTS: When the low, medium, and high PM10 concentrations filters were tested in the CAM assay, an increasing number of microvessels was detectable after 4 days of applications of the filters. Moreover, at histological level, numerous microvessels and a dense inflammatory infiltrate were recognizable in the CAM mesenchyme. CONCLUSION: Our data show a clear dose-response relationship between the dose variable (PM10 and Bap) and the outcome variable. So far, the PM10 target value is determined on the basis of regulatory agreements and is not health-based. In addition, the mere gravimetric measure of PM10 cannot be considered a fully reliable surrogate of the overall toxicity of the mixture.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/toxicidade , Membrana Corioalantoide/irrigação sanguínea , Neovascularização Patológica/induzido quimicamente , Material Particulado/toxicidade , Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Animais , Carcinógenos/análise , Carcinógenos/toxicidade , Embrião de Galinha , Membrana Corioalantoide/química , Metais/análise , Metais/toxicidade , Microvasos/fisiologia , Nitrocompostos/análise , Nitrocompostos/toxicidade , Material Particulado/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/toxicidadeRESUMO
In areas at high environmental risk, a major issue is the assessment of the exposure of the general population to industrial pollutants. To date, few studies have investigated exposure to heavy metals in a population residing in a high risk environmental area. The aim of this study is to evaluate the exposure to heavy metals in the industrial area of Taranto, Southern Italy, through biological monitoring techniques. We measured the levels of inorganic arsenic and methylated metabolites, lead, cadmium, chromium, and manganese in the urine samples of 279 subjects residing in Taranto and neighboring areas. After obtaining informed consent from each participant, qualified health staff administered a standardized structured questionnaire investigating lifestyle habits and assessing any confounding factors. The biological monitoring data showed high urinary concentrations of nearly all of the heavy metals investigated. These findings could be related to the presence of industrial plants and is sufficient to warrant the expectation that local and national institutions should be required to adopt preventive measures to reduce the environmental exposure of the general population to heavy metals.
Assuntos
Arsênio/urina , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Poluentes Ambientais/urina , Indústrias , Metais Pesados/urina , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Monitoramento Ambiental/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Humanos , Itália , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
AIM: In the context of the Italian Multicentric Epidemiological Study on Risk Factors for Childhood Leukaemia and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (SETIL), the risk of childhood cancer was investigated in relation to parental occupational exposures. METHODS: All cases of childhood leukaemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in children aged 0-10 years were identified. Controls were chosen at random from the local population in each region. Parents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were blindly reviewed by expert industrial hygienists in order to estimate exposure to a list of agents. Statistical analyses were performed for each agent using unconditional multivariable logistic regression models, taking into account timing of exposure. RESULTS: 683 cases of acute childhood leukaemia, 97 cases of NHL and 1044 controls were identified. Increased risk of childhood leukaemia was found for maternal exposure to aliphatic (OR 4.3) or aromatic hydrocarbons (OR 3.8) in the preconception period, and for paternal exposure to diesel exhaust (OR 1.4), lead exposure (OR 1.7) and mineral oils (OR 1.4)[corrected]. Risk of NHL appeared to be related to paternal exposure to oxygenated solvents (OR 2.5) and petrol exhaust (OR 2.2). CONCLUSIONS: We found increased risk for childhood leukaemia associated with maternal occupational exposure to aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, particularly in the preconception period; increased risks were also observed for paternal exposure to diesel exhaust fumes, mineral oils and lead. The risk of NHL appeared to be related to paternal exposure to oxygenated solvent and petrol exhausts.
Assuntos
Linfoma não Hodgkin/etiologia , Exposição Materna/efeitos adversos , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Exposição Paterna/efeitos adversos , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/epidemiologia , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/etiologia , Adolescente , Distribuição por Idade , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Indústria Química , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos Epidemiológicos , Feminino , Substâncias Perigosas/efeitos adversos , Humanos , Incidência , Itália/epidemiologia , Modelos Logísticos , Linfoma não Hodgkin/epidemiologia , Linfoma não Hodgkin/fisiopatologia , Masculino , Análise Multivariada , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/fisiopatologia , Gravidez , Efeitos Tardios da Exposição Pré-Natal , Medição de Risco , Distribuição por Sexo , Solventes/efeitos adversos , Análise de SobrevidaRESUMO
OBJECTIVES: the purpose of this study is to assess the potential health impact of the start-up of a new incinerator in general population living near the facility in Modugno, province of Bari (Puglia Region, Italy), in combination with the existent Combined-Cycle combustion Gas Turbine (CCGT) power generation facility. DESIGN: an algorithm was used to calculate the number of cases (deaths and hospital admissions) associated with a given concentrations of PM10, the exposed population, the specific mortality/morbidity rate. For every health end-point, an estimate of RR was obtained from the literature. Using PM10 as tracer, simulations were made of incinerator emissions fallout. Residents within 2 km radius from the plants were considered. RESULTS: with the reduction of the average concentration of PM10 to 40 µg/m(3), 0.12% of natural causes of death could be prevented. Proportionally, the increment in PM10 concentration of 1 µg/m(3) could be associated to 0.02% of deaths. CONCLUSIONS: the estimated health impact of the incinerator emissions doesn't modify the epidemiological profile for the population living nearby.
Assuntos
Poluição Ambiental/efeitos adversos , Incineração , Causas de Morte , Humanos , Itália , Admissão do Paciente/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the association between phenotype and sun sensitivity factors, sun protection behavior, ethnicity and the area of residence in school-aged children. DESIGN: a cross-sectional study in the framework of a survey of children using a self-administered questionnaire to be filled in by parents. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 56390 children attending primary schools located in the Italian provinces of Brindisi, Rome, Forlì and Genova, in the period between 1998-2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds Ratios (ORs) and their relative 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) are to be computed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: "FOTO positive" phenotype, a proxy variable of the fair phenotype, was directly and significantly associated with the tendency to sunburn (OR 4.75; 95% CI 4.54-4.96), the use of sunscreens (OR 1.79; 95% CI 1.63-1.97), the number of grandparents born in the northern areas (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.45-1.83, for four northern grandparents versus none), the presence of freckles on the face (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.53-1.72) and of naevi on the left forearm (OR 1.20; 95% CI 1.15-1.26). A positive association was also found for the residence in the northern areas using the area of Brindisi as the reference category, (Rome: OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.95-1.10; Forlì: OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.96-1.15; Genova: OR 1.16; 95% CI 1.08-1.26); the ORs increase with latitude, as does the incidence rate of melanoma in Italy. An inverse association was observed with the male sex (OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.88-0.96), the increase of school-class level (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.60-0.69, for the highest versus the lowest school-class level) and the ability to tan (OR 0.40; 95% CI 0.36-0.43). CONCLUSION: these findings confirmed that the fairness phenotype is associated with other skin cancer risk factors in children and pointed out that the high-risk phenotype has a geographical distribution consistent with the pattern of melanoma incidence in the Italian areas covered by the study.
Assuntos
Melanoma/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Induzidas por Radiação/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/epidemiologia , Luz Solar/efeitos adversos , Criança , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Inquéritos Epidemiológicos , Humanos , Incidência , Itália/epidemiologia , Masculino , Melanoma/etnologia , Melanoma/etiologia , Melanose/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Induzidas por Radiação/etnologia , Neoplasias Induzidas por Radiação/etiologia , Nevo/epidemiologia , Pais , Fenótipo , Pigmentação , Tolerância a Radiação , Fatores de Risco , Neoplasias Cutâneas/etnologia , Neoplasias Cutâneas/etiologia , Banho de Sol/estatística & dados numéricos , Protetores Solares , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: An important issue in human biomonitoring is determining how exposure duration affects the kinetics of molecular biomarkers. In this study we compare the influence of exposure variables on DNA adducts. METHODS: DNA adducts were analysed by 32P-postlabelling in lympho/monocytes of 677 Caucasian subjects. RESULTS: After correction for other variables, DNA adducts increased depending on the length of occupational and smoke exposures. Higher DNA adducts were detected in workers with more than 14 years of exposure than in workers with shorter exposures (RR = 1.19, p = 0.049) and in smokers with more than 10 years of exposure than in smokers with shorter exposure (RR = 1.21, p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure length is the primary factor affecting DNA-adduct level in lympho/monocytes both in smokers and in occupationally exposed subjects.
Assuntos
Carcinógenos Ambientais/toxicidade , Adutos de DNA/sangue , Linfócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Exposição Ocupacional , Adulto , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Linfócitos/metabolismo , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Radioisótopos de FósforoRESUMO
This study was designed to evaluate the influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on urinary arsenic excretion in workers exposed to iAs (inorganic arsenic) in the dismantlement of a factory which once produced fertilisers. We measured iAs and its methylated metabolites in 108 urinary samples of workers exposed to iAs in July 2006. A total of 13.9% of the samples showed levels higher than the Biological Exposure Index (BEI) of 35 microg/l (mean value 23.9 microg/l). After the improvement of working conditions, in August-October 2006 we collected urinary samples from each of the 108 workers enrolled. We also administrated a questionnaire, in order to investigate the influence of occupational and non-occupational factors on the urinary arsenic excretion. A significant difference was observed in relation with seafood consumption and age stratification. We have found a significant reduction of urinary arsenic excretion between the two phases of biological monitoring, probably due to appropriate hygiene work-related interventions.
Assuntos
Arsênio/urina , Exposição Ambiental/análise , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Saúde Ocupacional , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Fertilizantes , Contaminação de Alimentos , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Exposição Ocupacional/prevenção & controle , Alimentos Marinhos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: to estimate the spatial distribution of risk, in order to assess its correlation to environmental pollution exposure around the large production facilities located in the Taranto area, and to identify high risk areas not previously reported. SETTING: Italy, Taranto province (581,508 inhabitants). DESIGN: incidence data in 29 municipalities of the Taranto province were extracted from the Jonico Salentino Cancer Registry (RTJS) for the following cancer sites: lung (ICDX C33-C34); pleura, pleuric mesothelioma (ICDX C45.0); bladder, malignancies only (ICDX C67); brain (ICDX C70-72); non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ICDX C82-85, C96); leukaemia (ICDX C91-5). Age standardized incidence rates for the whole province were computed. High-level risk areas were classified using a Poisson model, computing area-specific p-values associated to the null hypothesis of no increased risk (i.e. relative risk equal to 1). A hierarchical spatial Bayesian model was estimated to strengthen results: specifically two additional variance components, accounting for relative risk spatial autocorrelation and excess heterogeneity respectively, were considered in the model specification. Bayesian mapping of disease incidence allows for the drawing of regularized (smoothed) maps. To adjust for the effect of socio-economic deprivation, a five-variable index was introduced into the model as an ecological covariate. RESULTS: an increased risk of lung, pleura and bladder cancer was observed among male residents in the city of Taranto (respectively: SIR 1.24, p-value < 0.01; SIR: 2.21, p-value < 0.01; SIR 1.28, p-value < 0.01). For non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a significant value was observed in the city of Taranto for males (SIR 1.46, p-value < 0.01), as well as in the neighbouring area of Pulsano for females (SIR 3.88, p-value < 0.01). An unexpected increased risk of brain cancer was found in both sexe risk (especially among males) of lung, pleura and bladder cancer is likely related to the chemical pollutants and asbestos, due to the presence of many industries and shipyards in the city of Taranto.
Assuntos
Carcinógenos Ambientais/toxicidade , Neoplasias/epidemiologia , Algoritmos , Neoplasias Encefálicas/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Itália/epidemiologia , Leucemia/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Pulmonares/epidemiologia , Linfoma não Hodgkin/epidemiologia , Masculino , Prontuários Médicos , Mesotelioma/epidemiologia , Neoplasias/induzido quimicamente , Neoplasias Pleurais/epidemiologia , Distribuição de Poisson , Estudos Retrospectivos , Risco , Neoplasias da Bexiga Urinária/epidemiologia , Poluentes Químicos da Água/toxicidadeRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A large steel plant close to the urban area of Taranto (Italy) has been operating since the sixties. Several studies conducted in the past reported an excess of mortality and morbidity from various diseases at the town level, possibly due to air pollution from the plant. However, the relationship between air pollutants emitted from the industry and adverse health outcomes has been controversial. We applied a variant of the "difference-in-differences" (DID) approach to examine the relationship between temporal changes in exposure to industrial PM10 from the plant and changes in cause-specific mortality rates at area unit level. METHODS: We examined a dynamic cohort of all subjects (321,356 individuals) resident in the Taranto area in 1998-2010 and followed them up for mortality till 2014. In this work, we included only deaths occurring on 2008-2014. We observed a total of 15,303 natural deaths in the cohort and age-specific annual death rates were computed for each area unit (11 areas in total). PM10 and NO2 concentrations measured at air quality monitoring stations and the results of a dispersion model were used to estimate annual average population weighted exposures to PM10 of industrial origin for each year, area unit and age class. Changes in exposures and in mortality were analyzed using Poisson regression. RESULTS: We estimated an increased risk in natural mortality (1.86%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.06, 3.83%) per 1⯵g/m3 annual change of industrial PM10, mainly driven by respiratory causes (8.74%, 95% CI: 1.50, 16.51%). The associations were statistically significant only in the elderly (65+â¯years). CONCLUSIONS: The DID approach is intuitively simple and reduces confounding by design. Under the multiple assumptions of this approach, the study indicates an effect of industrial PM10 on natural mortality, especially in the elderly population.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/toxicidade , Metalurgia , Mortalidade , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos de Coortes , Exposição Ambiental , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Itália , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Material Particulado/análise , Medição de Risco , Fatores de Tempo , Adulto JovemRESUMO
The evaluation of odor emissions and dispersion is a very arduous topic to face; the real-time monitoring of odor emissions, the identification of chemical components and, with proper certainty, the source of annoyance represent a challenge for stakeholders such as local authorities. The complaints of people, often not systematic and variously distributed, in general do not allow us to quantify the perceived annoyance. Experimental research has been performed to detect and evaluate olfactory annoyance, based on field testing of an innovative monitoring methodology grounded in automatic recording of citizen alerts. It has been applied in Taranto, in the south of Italy where a relevant industrial area is located, by using Odortel(®) for automated collection of citizen alerts. To evaluate its reliability, the collection system has been integrated with automated samplers, able to sample odorous air in real time, according to the citizen alerts of annoyance and, moreover, with meteorological data (especially the wind direction) and trends in odor marker compounds, recorded by air quality monitoring stations. The results have allowed us, for the first time, to manage annoyance complaints, test their reliability, and obtain information about the distribution and entity of the odor phenomena, such that we were able to identify, with supporting evidence, the source as an oil refinery plant.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Poluição do Ar/efeitos adversos , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Indústrias , Odorantes/análise , Olfatometria , Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis/análise , Poluentes Atmosféricos/efeitos adversos , Poluição do Ar/análise , Humanos , Itália , Percepção , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Compostos Orgânicos Voláteis/efeitos adversosRESUMO
Nowadays, no a standard method for the determination of particulate bound nitro-PAHs (NPAHs) has been developed. Existing methods include complex sampling and extraction procedures. Moreover, their sensitivity does not allow to analyze daily PM10 samples, affecting the temporal resolution of NPAH concentrations. In this study an analytical method for the quantification of NPAHs on half 47 mm-filter samples of daily PM10 was developed and validated. NPAHs were recovered by microwave-assisted extraction, and analyzed by using a gas chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in MRM mode. The analytical performance for 14 NPAHs (2-nitrofluorene, 9-nitroanthracene, 9-nitrophenantrene, 3-nitrophenantrene, 2-nitroanthracene, 3-nitrofluoranthene, 1-nitropyrene, 2,7-dinitrofluorene, 7-nitrobenzo[a]anthracene, 6-nitrochrysene, 1,3-dinitropyrene, 1,8-dinitropyrene, 1,6-dinitropyrene, 6-nitrobenza[a]pyrene) was investigated. Recovery extraction percentage exceeded 95% for all target compounds in the range between 0.25 and 10 ng/mL. The repeatability, expressed as Relative Standard Deviation percentage (RSD%) of five determinations, was less than 10% for target compounds except for 2,7-dinitrofluorene, 1,3- and 1,8-dinitropyrene (RSD% < 15%). The limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 12 to 84 pg/mL for most of NPAHs, except for dinitro-pyrenes and nitro-benzo(a)anthracene for which the LOD reached 1.8 ng/mL. The method developed was applied to real samples in order to evaluate the levels of NPAHs in the urban and industrial area of Taranto (South of Italy). The analysis of PM10 samples collected at four industrial and one urban sites, highlighted that in proximity of critical emission source as the biggest European steel plant and under certain weather conditions, combustion processes were the main source of NPAHs in atmosphere.
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Nitrocompostos/análise , Material Particulado/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análise , Ar/análise , Fluorenos/análise , Fluorenos/química , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Indústrias , Itália , Nitrocompostos/química , Material Particulado/química , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/química , Pirenos/análise , Pirenos/química , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , UrbanizaçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The association of childhood leukemia with traffic pollution was considered in a number of studies from 1989 onwards, with results not entirely consistent and little information regarding subtypes. AIM OF THE STUDY: We used the data of the Italian SETIL case-control on childhood leukemia to explore the risk by leukemia subtypes associated to exposure to vehicular traffic. METHODS: We included in the analyses 648 cases of childhood leukemia (565 Acute lymphoblastic-ALL and 80 Acute non lymphoblastic-AnLL) and 980 controls. Information on traffic exposure was collected from questionnaire interviews and from the geocoding of house addresses, for all periods of life of the children. RESULTS: We observed an increase in risk for AnLL, and at a lower extent for ALL, with indicators of exposure to traffic pollutants. In particular, the risk was associated to the report of closeness of the house to traffic lights and to the passage of trucks (OR: 1.76; 95% CI 1.03-3.01 for ALL and 6.35; 95% CI 2.59-15.6 for AnLL). The association was shown also in the analyses limited to AML and in the stratified analyses and in respect to the house in different period of life. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the SETIL study provide some support to the association of traffic related exposure and risk for AnLL, but at a lesser extent for ALL. Our conclusion highlights the need for leukemia type specific analyses in future studies. Results support the need of controlling exposure from traffic pollution, even if knowledge is not complete.
Assuntos
Poluição do Ar/efeitos adversos , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/etiologia , Veículos Automotores , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/etiologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Itália/epidemiologia , Leucemia Mieloide Aguda/epidemiologia , Masculino , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/epidemiologia , RiscoRESUMO
The authors report the occupational medicine problems in the Apulia region, which are representative of those in Southern Italy. Late industrialization was associated with an early peak in injuries that was not associated with an increased workforce. Examples of operations adversely affecting worker and population health are presented.
Assuntos
Acidentes de Trabalho/tendências , Saúde Ocupacional/estatística & dados numéricos , Amianto/efeitos adversos , Indústria Química , História do Século XX , Humanos , Itália , Saúde Ocupacional/história , Petróleo , AçoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study aims at evaluating the occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) through biological monitoring and at investigating the influence of selected genetic polymorphisms on the levels of internal dose biomarker. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study has been conducted on the basis of biological measurements in order to evaluate the levels of PAH exposure. SETTING: PAH exposure assessment has been carried out in a coke-oven of one of the largest European steel plants (ILVA, Taranto), in the context of the program of medical surveillance carried in collaboration with the ILVA Occupational Health Service. PARTICIPANTS: 355 coke-oven workers exposed to PAH were enrolled from the 3 batteries of the coke oven plant. Maintenance workers and industrial cleaners were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The measurement of urinary levels of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as biomarker of internal dose has been carried out, as well as the evaluation of metabolic polymorphisms of the cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), glutathione S-transferases mu (GSTM1) and theta (GSTT1) as biomarkers of susceptibility. RESULTS: The median value of urinary 1-OHP was 1,05 microMol/Molcreat. The difference between the groups was statistically significant, with the highest value observed in the maintenance group (median 1,71, range 0,06-14,69 microMol/Molcreat). It is remarkable that 25% of the workers exceeded the proposed benchmark guideline value of2,3 microMol/Molcreat. No statistical difference was found in relation to smoking habits. Workers with GSTT1 null genotype had higher 1-OHP levels than those with wild type (p = 0,06). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of biomarker of internal dose reflect a critical exposure to PAH in the coke-oven plant. Further observations are needed to better investigate the role of GSTT1 on the 1-OHP levels.
Assuntos
Monitoramento Ambiental , Metalurgia , Exposição Ocupacional/efeitos adversos , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/efeitos adversos , Coque , Estudos Transversais , Humanos , Itália , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Hidrocarbonetos Policíclicos Aromáticos/análise , AçoRESUMO
The study describes the mortality of 417 workers employed in a asbestos-cement plant, located in Bari, Puglia, Southern Italy. Follow up started on February 1st 1972. The vital status and cause of death were ascertained at 1995. The mortality experience of the Apulian population was used as comparison. Using 90% confidence limits (CLs), a significant increase in mortality was observed in our cohort from: all causes of death (SMR 118, CL 100-139), pneumoconiosis (SMR 14810, CL 10298-20683), all types of cancer (SMR 139, CL 105-181), lung (SMR 191, CL 126-277), pleural (SMR 1560 CL 431-4081) and peritoneum (SMR 1705, CL 303-5367) malignant neoplasms. In our cohort, the discrepancy between observed and expected mortality for lung and pleural cancer occurred 30 years after the first exposure, after 40 years for all neoplasms and peritoneum cancer. Under the Cox regression model, lung cancer SMR showed a curvilinear trend along time since first exposure, the peak being detected at 35 years. Finally, SMRs from our cohort were compared to a previously described cohort including workers from the same plant compensated for asbestosis by INAIL.
Assuntos
Amianto/efeitos adversos , Materiais de Construção/efeitos adversos , Indústrias Extrativas e de Processamento , Neoplasias/mortalidade , Doenças Profissionais/mortalidade , Pneumoconiose/mortalidade , Adulto , Asbestose/mortalidade , Causas de Morte , Estudos de Coortes , Doenças do Sistema Digestório/mortalidade , Indústrias Extrativas e de Processamento/estatística & dados numéricos , Seguimentos , Humanos , Itália , Pneumopatias/mortalidade , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidade , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Neoplasias Peritoneais/mortalidade , Neoplasias Pleurais/mortalidade , Modelos de Riscos Proporcionais , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
PCDD/F in exhaust gas emission samples was determined by the Environmental Agency of Apulia for a sinter plant located in Taranto (Italy) starting from June 2007 following an Agreement Act between plant owners and the Regional Government with the aim to assess and improve the environmental performances of the plant. The first two sampling campaigns yielded results ranging between 3.42 and 8.34 ng I-TE/Nm(3) that were soon considered revelatory of a high potential impact on the surrounding environment and the public, prompting for immediate action. As a first outcome, a Regional Regulation (LR 44/2008) was enforced in order to reduce PCDD/F emissions by plants operating in the metal sector, including sinter plants. After installation of a urea addition plant to the sinter mix as a process-integrated abatement technique the emissions ranged from 0.86 to 3.59 ng I-TE/Nm(3). In order to reach compliance to the newly introduced emission limit value of 0.4 ng I-TE/Nm(3) the urea plant was removed in favour of active-carbon injection as an end-of-pipe technique. Subsequently, during year 2011 emission values ranged from 0.095 to 1.97 ng I-TE/Nm(3), while in 2012 the observed range was 0.058 to 0.91 ng I-TE/Nm(3). As a better evaluation of the potential impact of the sinter plant emissions, a yearly mass-flow was estimated using exhaust gas PCDD/F concentrations and plant operational parameters (3.4 M Nm(3)/h). Mass-flow was estimated to be as high as 165 g I-TE/year for 2007 using yearly average concentrations or 248 g I-TE/year using the peak-value of 8.34 ng I-TE/Nm(3).
Assuntos
Poluentes Atmosféricos/análise , Poluição do Ar/estatística & dados numéricos , Monitoramento Ambiental , Metalurgia , Poluição do Ar/legislação & jurisprudência , Poluição do Ar/prevenção & controle , Benzofuranos/análise , Dibenzofuranos Policlorados , Política Ambiental , Itália , Dibenzodioxinas Policloradas/análogos & derivados , Dibenzodioxinas Policloradas/análiseRESUMO
Avoiding or minimizing potential environmental impact is the driving idea behind protecting a population's health via Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs). However, both are often carried out without any systematic approach. This paper describes the findings of a review of HIA, EIA andSEA experiences carried out by the authors, who act as institutional competent subjects at the national and regional levels in Italy. The analysis of how health is tackled in EIA and SEA procedures could support the definition of a protocol for the integration of HIA with EIA and SEA. Although EIA and SEA approaches include the aim of protecting health,significant technical and methodological gaps are present when assessing health systematically, and their basic principles regarding assessment are unsatisfactory for promoting and addressing healthcare concepts stated by the WHO. HIA is still poorly integrated into the decision-making process, screening and monitoring phases are only occasionally implemented, and operational details are not well-defined. The collaborative approach of institutions involved in environment and health is a core element in a systematic advancement toward supporting effective decisions and effective protection ofthe environment and health. At the Italian national level, the definition of guidelines and tools for HIA, also in relation with EIA and SEA, is of great interest.
Assuntos
Tomada de Decisões , Saúde Ambiental/métodos , Avaliação do Impacto na Saúde/métodos , Saúde Pública/métodos , Humanos , Itália , Modelos TeóricosRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Aetiology of childhood leukaemia and childhood neoplasm is poorly understood. Information on the prevalence of risk factors in the childhood population is limited. SETIL is a population based case-control study on childhood leukaemia, conducted with two companion studies on non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) and neuroblastoma. The study relies on questionnaire interviews and 50 Hz magnetic field (ELF-MF) indoor measurements. This paper discusses the SETIL study design and includes descriptive information. METHODS: The study was carried out in 14 Italian regions (78.3% of Italian population aged 0-10). It included leukaemia, NHL and neuroblastoma cases incident in 0-10 year olds in 1998-2001, registered by the Italian Association of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (AIEOP) (accrual over 95% of estimated incidence). Two controls for each leukaemia case were randomly sampled from the Local Health Authorities rolls, matched by gender, birthdate and residence. The same controls were used in NHL and neuroblastoma studies. Parents were interviewed at home on: physical agents (ELF-MF and ionizing radiation), chemicals (smoking, solvents, traffic, insecticides), occupation, medical and personal history of children and parents, infectious diseases, immunizations and associated factors. Occupational exposure was collected using job specific modules. ELF-MF was measured in the main rooms (spot measurement) and close to child's bed (48 hours measurement). RESULTS: The study included: 683 leukaemia cases (87% ALL, 13% AnLL), 97 NHL, 155 neuroblastomas, and 1044 controls. CONCLUSIONS: SETIL represents a data source on exposure of Italian children to a broad array of potential carcinogenic factors.