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Pasetto R, Zona A, Marsili D, Buratti FM, Iavarone I, Soggiu ME, Testai E. Promotion of environmental public health and environmental justice in communities affected by large and long lasting industrial contamination: methods applied and lessons learned from the case study of Porto Torres (Italy). Front Public Health 2024; 12:1408127. [PMID: 39050598 PMCID: PMC11266294 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1408127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Communities affected by large scale and long lasting industrial contamination are often keen to understand whether their health has been impaired by such contamination. This requires answers that integrate environmental public health and environmental justice perspectives. At these sites, exposure scenarios from environmental contamination over time by multiple chemicals, often involving different environmental matrices, are complex and challenging to reconstruct. Methods An approach for describing the health of such communities in association with environmental contamination is presented, with the methods applied across the three domains of environmental contamination, population exposure and toxicology, environmental and social epidemiology, and environmental public health communication. The approach is described with examples from its application to the case study of Porto Torres, a town with a substantial industrially conditioned evolution. Results Activities in the field of environmental contamination, population exposure and toxicology focus on the collection and systematization of available contamination data, the identification of priority pollutants based on their toxicological profiles, the qualitative assessment of the likelihood of exposure for the population to priority pollutants and their known health effects. Environmental and social epidemiology methods are applied to describe the health profiles and socioeconomic conditions of the local population, taking into account multiple health outcomes from local information systems and considering specific diseases based on exposure and toxicological assessments. The environmental public health communication methods are directed to produce a communication plan and for its implementation through interaction with local institutional and social actors. The interpretation of health profiles benefits from a transdisciplinary analysis of the results. Discussion The proposed approach combines the needs of environmental public health and environmental justice allowing the integration of multidisciplinary knowledge to define recommendations for reducing and/or preventing hazardous environmental exposures and adverse health effects, stimulating the interactions between stakeholders, and making the study results more accessible to citizens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pasetto
- Environmental and Social Epidemiology Unit, Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Rome, Italy
| | - Amerigo Zona
- Environmental and Social Epidemiology Unit, Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Marsili
- Environmental and Social Epidemiology Unit, Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Rome, Italy
| | - Franca M. Buratti
- Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Models Unit, Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivano Iavarone
- Environmental and Social Epidemiology Unit, Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Eleonora Soggiu
- Exposure to Air, Soil Contaminants and Lifestyle Unit, Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Testai
- Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Models Unit, Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Laurent O, Gironza YC, Ancelet S, Armant O, Bard D, Baumgartner K, Bortoli S, Boudet C, Chamaret P, Cormier S, David A, Desqueyroux H, Gerber M, Grimbuhler S, Mougin C, Payrastre L, Schraub S, Trousse B, Reaud C, Charron S. Citizen science in environmental health research: A comparison with conventional approaches and creation of a guidance tool issued from the LILAS initiative. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118914. [PMID: 38609071 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Public interest for citizen science (CS) in environmental health is growing. The goals of environmental health research projects are diverse, as are the methods used to reach these goals. Opportunities for greater implication of the civil society and related challenges differ at each step of such projects. These methodological aspects need to be widely shared and understood by all stakeholders. The LILAS initiative (acronym for "application of citizen science approaches such as LIving LAbS to research on environmental exposures and chronic risks") aimed to 1) favor a mutual understanding of the main issues and research methods in environmental health, of their stakes for different actors, but also of the requirements, strengths and limitations of these methods and to 2) identify expected benefits and points of attention related to stronger degrees of participation as part of environmental health research projects. METHODS The LILAS initiative gathered institutional researchers, academics and civil society representatives interested in environmental exposures. Five meetings allowed to collectively identify different types of environmental health research studies and reflect about the benefits, limitations, and methodological issues related to the introduction of growing citizen participation as part of such studies. An analytic table matrix summarizing these aspects was co-created and filled by participants, as a tool devoted to help stakeholders with the definition of future CS research projects in environmental health. RESULTS For different fields of research (e.g.: studies for assessment of environmental exposures, interventions on these exposures, quantitative risk assessment, epidemiological studies), the matrix lists expected benefits for various stakeholders, the fundamental principles of research methods and related practical constraints, but also advantages and limitations related to the use of CS or conventional research approaches. CONCLUSION The LILAS initiative allowed to develop a tool which provides consolidated grounds for the co-creation of research projects on environmental exposures involving CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Laurent
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LEPID, F-92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
| | - Yara Carrejo Gironza
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LEPID, F-92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Sophie Ancelet
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-SANTE/SESANE/LEPID, F-92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Olivier Armant
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), PSE-ENV/SERPEN/LECO, F-13115 Cadarache, France
| | - Denis Bard
- Société Francophone de Santé Environnement, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Stéphanie Cormier
- CPIE des Pays de L'Aisne, For UNCPIE, Merlieux-et-Fouquerolles, France
| | - Arthur David
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | | | | | - Sonia Grimbuhler
- Université Montpellier, INRAE, Institut Agro, UMR ITAP, Montpellier, France
| | - Christian Mougin
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR ECOSYS, Palaiseau, France
| | | | | | - Brigitte Trousse
- Centre Inria de Université Côte D'Azur, Sophia-Antipolis, France; European Network of Living Labs - ENoLL, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cynthia Reaud
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), SPOS, F-92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Sylvie Charron
- Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN), SPOS, F-92260, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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Cohen AK, Snyder RE. Community-Based Participatory Research for Epidemiology, Health Equity, and Community Goals: Insights From Brazil, France, and USA. COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH & POLICY 2024:2752535X241262857. [PMID: 38885632 DOI: 10.1177/2752535x241262857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Community-based participatory research coproduces knowledge by emphasizing bidirectional exchanges between participants, communities, and researchers. PURPOSE, RESEARCH DESIGN, AND STUDY SAMPLE We highlight three studies in historically marginalized communities on separate continents (Richmond, CA, USA; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Marseille industrial zone, France) to exemplify how community-based participatory research improves research, offers tangible community benefits, and values residents more than traditional research methods. DATA ANALYSIS We provide insights into the process of conducting meaningful community-based participatory epidemiologic research. RESULTS In each of these communities, community-based participatory research led to high-quality research that helped inform context-appropriate policies and programs to improve health and advance health equity in these communities. CONCLUSIONS We recommend that researchers consistently engage with community members during all phases of research so that they can engage more participants, more deeply in the research process, build local capacity, improve data collection and data quality, as well as increase our understanding of research findings to inform future applied research and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison K Cohen
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert E Snyder
- School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Artosi F, Costanza G, Di Prete M, Garofalo V, Lozzi F, Dika E, Cosio T, Diluvio L, Shumak RG, Lambiase S, Di Raimondo C, Campa S, Piscitelli P, Miani A, Bianchi L, Campione E. Epidemiological and clinical analysis of exposure-related factors in non-melanoma skin cancer: A retrospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 247:118117. [PMID: 38218521 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) increased over last decades, probably due to environmental concerns or to the increase of frail patients with age related comorbidities. Currently, the relationship of increasing global skin cancer rates with increased ultraviolet radiations (UVRs) resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion, global warming, and air pollution from fossil-fuel combustion. AIMS We conducted a retrospective epidemiological study including 546 NMSC patients managed at the Dermatology Unit of the Tor Vergata Hospital to highlight different trends of sun exposure or different comorbidities. METHODS Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed to evidence differences between continous variable and Spearman rank test for dicotomical variables. Charlson Comorbidity Index was calculated to obtain the 10-years survival rate in order to identify the mean comorbidity burden of our patients. RESULTS Considering patients with comorbidities (73.81%), actinic keratoses (AKs) was the most frequent lesion. In patients with a history of previous melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was predominant (ANOVA test, p < 0.05) with a statistically significant correlation (rho = 0.453; p < 0.01). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) showed a higher rate in arterial hypertension patients, followed by the chronic heart failure and hematologic neoplasms (60%, 29.7% and 32.1%, respectively) groups. Men were more affected than women, representing 61.54% of patients. Chronic sun exposure is directly correlated with SCC rho = 0.561; p < 0.01), whereas BCC correlated with a history of sunburns (rho = 0.312; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS History of photo-exposition had an important role on NMSC development especially for work or recreational reasons. Sex, age, and presence of comorbidities influenced different NMSC types. BCC was more frequent in younger patients, associated with melanoma and sunburns. The presence of SCC is associated with older patients and the hypertension group. AKs were diagnosed predominantly in oldest men, with a chronic sun-exposure history, and hematologic neoplasms group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Artosi
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Gaetana Costanza
- Unit of Virology, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Monia Di Prete
- Dermatopathology Laboratory, Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri, Istituto San Gallicano, via Fermo Ognibene 23, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Virginia Garofalo
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia Lozzi
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Emi Dika
- Dermatology, IRCCS Policlinico Sant'Orsola, via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Terenzio Cosio
- PhD Course Microbiology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, and Transplants (MIMIT), Microbiology Section, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Laura Diluvio
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Ruslana Gaeta Shumak
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Sara Lambiase
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Cosimo Di Raimondo
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Serena Campa
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Italy.
| | - Prisco Piscitelli
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Italy; University of Salento, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Miani
- Italian Society of Environmental Medicine, SIMA, Italy; Department of Environmental Sciences and Policies, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Luca Bianchi
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
| | - Elena Campione
- Dermatology Unit, Policlinico Tor Vergata, System Medicine Department, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy, via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy.
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