Epidemiological study on the population resident in the neighbourhood of an incinerator in Tuscany Region (Central Italy)

Abstract

Objectives to evaluate the health impact of the emissions of two waste incinerators located in the same area in Pietrasanta (Tuscany Region, Central Italy) at the border with the municipality of Camaiore, especially for diseases suggested in previous studies to be related to those emissions. Design epidemiological geographic study. Setting and participants the study population was defined on the basis of residence in the two municipalities and in the areas characterized by Particulate Matter with diameter equal or less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and poli-chloro-dibenzo-dioxin / poli-chloro-dibenzo-furans (PCDD/F) pollution defined with a dispersion model. From the resident population, for each cancer case it was sampled a control, matched to case by gender and age at case's diagnosis, and for each premature and low-weight newborn a control matched was sampled by year of birth, gender, and mother's residence. Main outcome measures standardized (standard: European population) mortality and hospitalization rates in the residents of the two municipalities were calculated for liver, larynx, lung cancer, soft tissue sarcoma (STM), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), multiple myeloma, leukaemia, flu-excluded respiratory diseases, and circulatory diseases. The risk related to each PM2.5 and PCDD/F pollution level from the old incinerator for cancer and from the new plant for reproductive outcomes was analysed using logistic conditional regression model adjusted by gender and age. Results the mortality and hospitalization rates observed in the study area are similar to those calculated for the Versilia area excluded the two municipalities under study. There is a higher case distribution in the higher pollution levels, with significant increases in the highest level: • liver cancer: PM2.5 OR 2.3 (95%CI 1.5-3.6); PCDD/F OR 4.4 (95%CI 2.8-7.0); • larynx cancer: PCDD/F OR 3.2 (95%CI 1.5-6.7); • lung cancer: PCDD/F OR 1.5 (95%CI 1.1-2.0); • NHL: PCDD/F OR 8.5 (95%CI 3.1-23.5); • leukaemia: PCDD/F OR 4.1 (95%CI 1.8-9.3). The risks estimated for STM, although non significant, are consistent with those obtained in previous studies undertaken in areas characterized by dioxin pollution. There is a deficit of premature births in the area under study compared to the regional area, and no differences are observed among the different pollution areas. Conclusions it cannot be excluded that the emissions from the old incinerator had a health impact on the population living in the neighbourhood. Nevertheless, it is possible that other risk factors (occupations and life styles) could have had a role on the obtained results. Better estimates could be obtained also taking into consideration the residential histories of the subjects under study.