Human bio-monitoring study around a plant that recycles and refines precious metals in Central Italy.

In an area characterized by the presence of a plant that recycles and refines precious metals the study aims to evaluate the exposure to the plant emissions of the residents in the neighbourhood using human urinary biomarkers, in comparison with those obtained in a reference and in an urban area and with the data concerning dispersions of plant emissions obtained through a specific diffusional model. 153 subjects in the study area, 95 in the urban area and 55 in the reference area, aged 18-60years, answered to a self-administered questionnaire and collected their 24-h urine. Urinary concentrations of antimony, silver, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, mercury, nickel, platinum, creatinine, and the porphyrin patterns were detected.

Adverse reproductive outcomes associated with exposure to a municipal solid waste incinerator.

Introduction: The association between reproductive health outcomes and exposure to municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs) is inconclusive. This study investigates the association between exposure to a MSWI and various reproductive outcomes (preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, and sex ratio), taking into account other sources of pollution (industrial plants, highway, major roads with high traffic flows) and maternal factors, including the socioeconomic status.

Methods: PM10 concentration maps were used for the exposure assessment to the MSWI and to other sources of pollution in the study area.

[Epidemiological population-based cohort study on mortality and hospitalization in the area near the waste incinerator plant of San Zeno, Arezzo (Tuscany Region, Central Italy)].

Objectives: to evaluate whether exposure to an urban waste incinerator plant operating in Arezzo (Tuscany Region, Central Italy) since the 2000 is associated with mortality and morbidity.

Design: a population-based cohort study of inhabitants living close to the incinerator in the period 2001-2010 was conducted. The individual exposure histories to the incinerator and other sources in the area were estimated using a dispersion model producing PM10 concentration maps for each source (ADMS-URBAN model).

[Pollutants from a plant which burns toxic waste in the Province of Arezzo (Tuscany Region, Central Italy): human biomonitoring pilot study to evaluate the possible type of environmental exposure].

Objectives: to identify the biomarkers to use in order to evaluate the level and trend of exposure to environmental pollutants from a plant which retrieves and refines precious metals and burns toxic waste.

Design: human biomonitoring cross sectional study on a small sample of population resident in the study area.

Setting And Participants: blood and urinary samples, and questionnaires from volunteers resident at least for 10 years in Civitella in Val di Chiana area (Arezzo Province, Tuscany Region, Central Italy), where the plant is located, and in a control area; they had to be 5-year non-smokers or ex-smokers, in good health status and non occupationally exposed to heavy metals and/or combustion products.