title: Levels of heavy metals in adolescents living in the industrialised area of Milazzo-Valle del Mela (northern Sicily).
abstract: In the Milazzo-Valle del Mela area, the presence of industrial plants and the oil refinery make local residents concerned for their health. For this reason, we evaluated the levels of heavy metals in 226 children aged 12-14 years, living in the 7 municipalities of the area. A control age-matched population (n = 29) living 45 km far from the industrial site was also enrolled. Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, and vanadium were analysed in 24 h urine samples, while lead concentration was evaluated in blood samples. A questionnaire regarding life style and risk perception was also administered. Adolescents from Milazzo-Valle del Mela had cadmium levels significantly higher compared to either controls  (P < 0.0001) or the reference values of the European Germany Environmental Survey (GerES-IV) and the American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Furthermore, children had higher perception of living in a high-risk environment. The present data, for the first time, clearly indicate that adolescents living in Milazzo-Valle del Mela have increased body concentration of cadmium, which may be harmful to human health. These results deserve particular attention by the local and regional government to initiate prevention programmes in this susceptible population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, c/o AOU Policlinico G. Martino, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Interdonato
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, c/o AOU Policlinico G. Martino, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9300-7532
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitto
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, c/o AOU Policlinico G. Martino, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7806-435X
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzino
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, c/o AOU Policlinico G. Martino, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1134-7080
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Irrera
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, c/o AOU Policlinico G. Martino, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4187-2265
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pallio
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, c/o AOU Policlinico G. Martino, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mecchio
authors.affiliation: Assessorato Territorio ed Ambiente, Regione Sicilia, Via Ugo La Malfa, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuspilici
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, c/o AOU Policlinico G. Martino, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Letteria
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Minutoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric, Gynaecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenica
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1033-0527
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Torre Biologica 5th Floor, c/o AOU Policlinico G. Martino, Via C. Valeria Gazzi, 98125 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Squadrito
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012802:Sicily; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D001151:Arsenic