High risk of pleural plaques and parenchymal abnormalities in women living in Biancavilla (Italy).
Fluoro-edenite is a natural mineral species first isolated in Biancavilla, Sicily, used for construction of houses and roads, with health effects allegedly the same as those of asbestos. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the risks of pleural plaques and parenchymal abnormalities in women living in Biancavilla through a retrospective cross-sectional study. The evaluation pointed out a relative risk of pleural plaques of 39.67 (95% CI: 11.33-138.82) and 27.67 (95% CI: 5.43-141.00) for parenchymal abnormalities as well. These findings have prompted urge to extend the screening on the possible abnormalities of the respiratory tract to all Biancavilla's population, particularly in those aged more than 30 years.
Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Caterina
C
Ledda
Human Anatomy & Histology, Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Carla
C
Loreto
Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical & Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Massimo
M
Bracci
Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Dario
D
Mangano
Academic Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery & Medical Specialties, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Marcello
M
Migliore
Division of Radiology, Hospital of Biancavilla 'Maria SS Addolorata', ASP Catania, Biancavilla, Italy.
Vincenzo
V
Ricceri
Division of Radiology, University Hospital 'Policlinico - Vittorio Emanuele', University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Andrea
A
Musumeci
Occupational Medicine, Department of the Environment, Safety, Territory, Food & Health Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Chiara
C
Costa
Legal Medicine, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.|Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
Cristoforo
C
Pomara
Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Venerando
V
Rapisarda
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000009:adverse effects; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; C492470:fluor-edenite
asbestos; fluoro-edenite; parenchymal abnormalities; pleural plaques