[Epidemiologic study of the residents of the southeastern area of the Municipality of La Spieza].
We carried out an epidemiologic study to assess the effect on human health of living in an area (Zona D) of La Spezia Municipality (Liguria Region, Italy). Zona D is characterized by the presence of factories, industrial plants, shipyards, a coal-fired power-station, a heavily trafficked thoroughfare and urban waste disposal sites. 230 households for target and control populations were randomly selected from Demographic Department files and surveyed by means of a structured questionnaire administrated by trained interviewers in order to obtain information on adverse health outcome prevalence in 1997 (subjective symptoms and other self-reported conditions) and incidence during 1980-1997 (self-reported diseases diagnosed by general practitioners). In addition, residential, housing, household, and individual characteristics were also gathered. Non-responding households totalled nearly 45%, but were homogeneously distributed by area. After adjustment for several confounders, people living in Zona D showed an increased relative risk (RR) of skin and mucous membrane symptoms (RR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.02-1.53) attributable to airborne pollutants produced by an incinerator located within a disposal site. A rising RR was also observed for anaemia occurrence in both cross-sectional (RR = 2.44, 95% CI = 1.08-5.48) and longitudinal (RR = 3.21, 95% CI = 1.52-6.72) settings. These last results are consistent with the presence of lead ground pollution due to a heavy metal processing plant located in the same area. Analysis of adverse reproductive effects and cause-specific incidence and mortality revealed no remarkable differences between the study groups.
Fontana
V
V
Servizio di epidemiologia ambientale, Istituto nazionale per la ricerca sul cancro (IST), Genova. fontanav@hp380.ist.unige.it
Baldi
R
R
Franchini
M
M
Gridelli
P
P
Ceppi
M
M
Magnoni
U
U
Puntoni
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged