Influence of prenatal hexachlorobenzene, PCB and selenium levels on growth trajectories in the first year of life: Findings from the NEHO birth cohort.

Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may impact postnatal growth trajectories, increasing the risk of various diseases later in life. This issue is of particular concern in industrially contaminated areas, where environmental matrices contain mixtures of pollutants. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between cord serum concentrations of organochlorine pollutants (hexachlorobenzene-HCB and polychlorinated biphenyls-PCBs) and essential elements (EEs), and weight growth trajectories during the first year of life.

[Temporal analysis of the prevalence of congenital hypospadias in the municipality of Gela].

Objectives: to evaluate the risk profile of hypospadias in Gela, an Italian National Priority Contaminated Site (NPCS) located in Sicily Region (Southern Italy), characterized by a significant excess of hypospadias in newborn residents compared to data from reference on regional, national, and international basis and, until 2014, by the presence of a petrochemical plant.

Design: geographical analyses were conducted by comparing the prevalence of the Gela municipality to prevalence found in Sicily, in a territorial area bordering Gela (ALG), and in the NPCSs of Milazzo and Priolo. The geographical comparisons were conducted for the period 2010-2020, the trend within the Gela NPCS was evaluated by comparing two subperiods (2010-2014 and 2015-2020).

The Influence of Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle, and Risk Perception on Dietary Patterns in Pregnant Women Living in Highly Contaminated Areas: Data from the NEHO Birth Cohort.

During pregnancy, maternal nutrition and lifestyle play a critical role in influencing fetal development and newborn health outcomes. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the adherence to dietary patterns in pregnant women living in highly contaminated areas, and whether women with higher environmental risk perception manifest different nutritional behaviors during pregnancy. Food consumption data on 816 pregnant women from the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) residential birth cohort were analyzed.

Development and Validation of a Novel Pre-Pregnancy Score Predictive of Preterm Birth in Nulliparous Women Using Data from Italian Healthcare Utilization Databases.

Preterm birth is a major worldwide public health concern, being the leading cause of infant mortality. Understanding of risk factors remains limited, and early identification of women at high risk of preterm birth is an open challenge. The aim of the study was to develop and validate a novel pre-pregnancy score for preterm delivery in nulliparous women using information from Italian healthcare utilization databases.

[Application of an algorithm for the validation of congenital anomaly cases using hospital discharge records].

Objectives: to evaluate and validate the adoption of an algorithm for the identification of cases of congenital anomalies (CAs) to improve the performance of the Congenital Malformations Registry of Sicily Region (Southern Italy).

Design: an algorithm was used to identify congenital anomalies on a sample of hospital discharge records (SDO) with ICD-9-CM code between 740-759 on any of the diagnoses within the first year of life, together with a sample of healthy births equal to 5% of total births for the same period. The identified cases were evaluated through the clinical record analysis.

[A regional equity profile to assess the impact of social inequalities on determinants and health outcomes in the population residing in Sicily Region (Southern Italy)].

Objectives: to build an equity profile for assessing the impact of socioeconomic inequalities on the determinants and health outcome in Sicily (Southern Italy).

Design: descriptive study aimed to define an equity profile in Sicily by using a rich list of indicators of structure of the resident population and of distribution of determinants and health outcome, derived from the integration of available information and scientific evidence at regional level with high local detail.

Setting And Participants: the equity profile collects available information on the health status of the population in Sicily, on the determinants, and on the use of health and social services.

The Management of Health Hazards Related to Municipal Solid Waste on Fire in Europe: An Environmental Justice Issue?

Landfilling should be the last option in an integrated Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management approach. In the European Union (EU), the policy framework to protect the environment and the public health against the impact of health hazards related to urban solid waste management has been consistently implemented in recent decades. A growing interest in the negative impact of fires in waste landfills on the environment and people's health was reported in some European countries.

[The epidemiological surveillance in the programme of public health intervention in the national priority contaminated sites of Sicily Region (Southern Italy): update of mortality, hospitalization, and cancer incidence].

Objectives: to update the health profile of populations residing in the national priority contaminated sites (NPCSs) in Sicily Region (Southern Italy) through a description of mortality and hospitalization for causes and through cancer incidence. This new profile is part of the implementation of the epidemiological surveillance system within the new Programme of care intervention for health protection in these populations and in the new Regional Prevention Plan.

Design: geographic population survey providing, for each NPCS considered in this study, a comparison between the local population and the populations of the neighbouring areas.

Do emissions from landfill fires affect pregnancy outcomes? A retrospective study after arson at a solid waste facility in Sicily.

Objectives: In response to public health concern about effects of arson at solid waste management plants in July 2012, we analysed vital statistics data to evaluate any potential effect on pregnancies at different gestational ages of pollutants emitted from the landfill on fire.

Setting: A community living near the largest landfill plant in Sicily.

Participants: The study group comprised 551 births, live births and stillbirths from pregnancies of mothers residing in the extra-urban exposed area, conceived during a 40 week period during which the highest fire's peak might have influenced pregnancy.

[Reproductive health in high environmental risk areas in Sicily Region (Southern Italy) in the period 2007-2013].

Background: Augusta-Priolo (SR), Gela (CL), and Milazzo (ME) cities, located in Sicily Region (Southern Italy), are included among the areas at high environmental risk in Italy and the national legislation classifies them among the polluted sites of national interest for environmental remediation. In the past, these areas had high contamination from industrial complexes.

Objectives: assessment of reproductive health through the analysis of data from the birth reports of all hospital of Sicily Region in 2007-2013.