HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF WASTE TREATMENT PLANTS ON THE RESIDENT POPULATION

Abstract

Background: Waste management is a complex issue that involves different populations and thousands of workers in Italy. Integrated Environmental and Health Impact Assessment has been recently developed (www.intarese.org) also specifically for waste management. Aim: to develop methodologies and operational tools for the implementation of surveillance systems on waste and health, to assess the impact of the municipal solid waste management on health of exposed population. Methods: The activities focused on the evaluation of scenarios based on regional planning of waste management, and the estimation of health impacts resulting by the presence of waste disposal facilities in 5 regions (Emilia-Romagna, Piedmont, Lazio, Campania, Sicily). A baseline scenario (waste policy in 2008-2009) has been calculated, with percentages of use of different types of waste disposal: recovery, TMB, incineration, landfill. A simulated "green scenario" for 2020 has been identified according to the following criteria: 10% reduction of waste production, 70% recycling/composting, no landfilling of unseparated waste. The different impacts relating to these policies are being evaluated. Exposed population was estimated with GIS approach, defining as exposed people who lived around plants (3 Km for incinerators, 2 km for landfills, 500 meters for mechanical biological treatment [MBT]). Results: The population involved is 249573 for incinerators, 158222 for landfills, 2586 for MBT. Piedmont has the largest number of people living near of 20 landfills (71389), Emilia-Romagna near 8 incinerators (146280). Health impact assessments, using different indicators of health and risk functions developed in previous projects, has to be performed. Conclusion: The proposed methodology will allow the monitoring of the health status of populations living around waste disposal facilities and the assessment of impact of different policies.