The impact measure of solid waste management on health: the hazard index.

The risk associated with waste exposure depends on the level of emissions arising from waste disposal and from the effects of these emissions on human health (dose-response). In 2007 an epidemiological study was conducted in two Italian provinces of the Campania Region, namely Naples and Caserta, with the aim of assessing the health effects deriving from exposure to waste. In these studies, the important aspect is the population exposure assessment, in relation to the different types of waste disposal.

Cancer mortality in an area of Campania (Italy) characterized by multiple toxic dumping sites.

Several recent studies have documented that a widespread practice of dumping toxic wastes has taken place for many years in the Provinces of Naples and Caserta. Extensive programs of environmental monitoring are currently ongoing in the area. In this frame, the Department of Civil Defence of the Italian Government has appointed an ad hoc study group in order to assess the health status of the population resident in the area of interest.

[Cause-specific mortality in an area of Campania with numerous waste disposal sites].

Objective: To investigate cause-specific mortality in an area of Campania region, in the surroundings of Naples, characterized by many toxic waste dumping grounds sites and by widespread burning of urban wastes.

Design: The study area was characterized by examining the spatial distribution of waste disposal sites and toxic waste dumping grounds, using a geographic information system (GIS). Mortality (1986-2000) was studied in the three municipalities of Giugliano in Campania, Qualiano and Villaricca, encompassing a population of about 150,000 inhabitants.

[Geographical distribution of mortality from malignant pleural neoplasms and of former asbestos-exposed workers in the Campania Region].

Aim: The purpose of the present paper is to describe the geographical distribution at municipality level of mortality from malignant pleural neoplasms in the Campania Region, along with the distribution of former asbestos-exposed workers. A GIS (Geographical Information System) application has been developed to integrate exposure and mortality data.

Study Design: The number of asbestos workers by municipality has been estimated by merging data provided by the National Institute for Insurance against Occupational Accidents (INAIL), the Ministry of Labour and an association of formerly exposed workers (AUSER Flegrea).

Mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pleural mesothelioma in an area contaminated by natural fiber (fluoro-edenite).

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the association between mortality from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and exposure to fluoro-edenite, a newly discovered amphibolic fiber found in Biancavilla (Sicily), a municipality on the slope of the Etna volcano, where a high mortality from malignant mesothelioma had been previously observed.

Methods: Thirty-six municipalities located in the volcanic area of mount Etna were selected for study. An ecological regression model was applied with mortality from COPD as the dependent variable, mortality from mesothelioma as a proxy for exposure to fluoro-edenite, and lung cancer mortality, an urban-rural index, a deprivation index and an aging index as the predictors of COPD mortality.

[Mortality from malignant pleural neoplasms in Broni (Pavia), 1980-1997].

Mortality for malignant pleural neoplasms (1980-97) was studied in Broni (Pavia) and in the surrounding area in order to update previous studies indicating a high incidence of pleural mesothelioma, due to the presence of an asbestos-cement factory. Observed mortality for pleural neoplasms was compared to expected figures derived from mortality rates of the population resident in Province of Pavia. A significant increase was found in Broni (SMR 825, CI 95%: 604-1, 100, 46 observed).