title: [Assessment of risk of mesothelioma: the case of an asbestos-cement production plant in the city of Bari].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this paper, by means of explorative methods based on geographical analysis, the relationship between the presence of an asbestos-cement factory in the urban area of Bari and malignant mesothelioma cases, occurring between 1980 and 2001 among residents, is analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data source of the 64 cases studied is the national register of mesotheliomas (Renam), the Apulia regional operating centre (Cor-Puglia). Data are analysed by the use of the S + SpatialStats software.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both individual data analysis and explorative geographic analysis point out an increased risk of disease among people living near the asbestos-cement factory: within an area centred on the location of plants and having a radius of about 1 Km, the estimated risk is 2.38 times above the normal level. Further analytical studies are required.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di scienze statistiche, Università degli Studi di Bari.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilancia
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavone
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pollice
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musti
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos