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Fazzo L, Manno V, Iavarone I, Minelli G, De Santis M, Beccaloni E, Scaini F, Miotto E, Airoma D, Comba P. The health impact of hazardous waste landfills and illegal dumps contaminated sites: An epidemiological study at ecological level in Italian Region. Front Public Health 2023; 11:996960. [PMID: 36923045 PMCID: PMC10010672 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.996960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aim The implementation of idoneous management of hazardous waste, in contrast to illegal practices, is one of the environment and health priorities of the WHO. The aim of the present study, based on a collaborative agreement between the Italian National Health Institute and a Prosecution Office located in Naples North, was to evaluate the health effects of illegal landfills and burning of urban and hazardous waste in the territory of the Prosecution Office. Methods The municipalities included in the study territory were investigated with respect to the regional population. Regression analyses were performed in the study area between four classes of an environmental municipal indicator of waste risk (MRI) previously defined, computing the relative risks (RRs) in 2-4 MRI classes, with respect to the first MRI class (the least impacted). The prevalence of reproductive outcomes and cause-specific mortality and hospitalization were analyzed in the general population and in the 0-19-year-old population using SAS software. Results An increase of mortality and hospitalization risk in both the genders of the whole area, with respect to regional population, were found for overall all cancer cases, cancer of the stomach, the liver, the lung and the kidney, and ischemic heart diseases. An increase of mortality for leukemias in the 0-19-year-old population and in hospitalization risk for certain conditions originating in the perinatal period were observed. Correlation between MRI and the risk of mortality from breast tumors in women (MRI class 2: RR = 1.06; MRI class 3: RR = 1.15; MRI class 4: RR = 1.11) and between MRI and the risk of hospitalization from testis tumors (MRI class 2: RR = 1.25; MRI class 3: RR = 1.31; MRI class 4: RR = 1.32) were found. The hospitalization risk from breast tumors and asthma exceeded significantly in both genders of three and four MRI classes. Among the 0-19-year-old population, correlation between MRI and hospitalization from leukemias (MRI class 2: RR = 1.48; MRI class 3: RR = 1.60; MRI class 4: RR = 1.41) and between MRI and the prevalence of preterm birth (MRI class 2: RR = 1.17; MRI class 3: RR = 1.08; MRI class 4: RR = 1.25) were found. Conclusion A correlation between health outcomes and the environmental pressure by uncontrolled waste sites was found. Notwithstanding the limitation of the study, the results promote implementing the actions of environmental remediation and the prosecution of illegal practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Fazzo
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Manno
- Statistical Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Ivano Iavarone
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Rome, Italy
| | - Giada Minelli
- Statistical Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco De Santis
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.,World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Beccaloni
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Scaini
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Edoardo Miotto
- Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Domenico Airoma
- Avellino Prosecution Office, Former North Naples Prosecution Office, Avellino, Italy
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Vidal AC, Moylan CA, Wilder J, Grant DJ, Murphy SK, Hoyo C. Racial disparities in liver cancer: Evidence for a role of environmental contaminants and the epigenome. Front Oncol 2022; 12:959852. [PMID: 36072796 PMCID: PMC9441658 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.959852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer incidence has tripled since the early 1980s, making this disease one of the fastest rising types of cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In the US, incidence varies by geographic location and race, with the highest incidence in the southwestern and southeastern states and among racial minorities such as Hispanic and Black individuals. Prognosis is also poorer among these populations. The observed ethnic disparities do not fully reflect differences in the prevalence of risk factors, e.g., for cirrhosis that may progress to liver cancer or from genetic predisposition. Likely substantial contributors to risk are environmental factors, including chemical and non-chemical stressors; yet, the paucity of mechanistic insights impedes prevention efforts. Here, we review the current literature and evaluate challenges to reducing liver cancer disparities. We also discuss the hypothesis that epigenetic mediators may provide biomarkers for early detection to support interventions that reduce disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana C. Vidal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Cynthia A. Moylan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Julius Wilder
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Delores J. Grant
- Department of Biomedical and Biological Sciences, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Susan K. Murphy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Research, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Cathrine Hoyo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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Jiang Y, Yang Y. Environmental Justice in Greater Los Angeles: Impacts of Spatial and Ethnic Factors on Residents' Socioeconomic and Health Status. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:5311. [PMID: 35564705 PMCID: PMC9105631 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Environmental justice advocates that all people are protected from disproportionate impacts of environmental hazards. Despite this ideal aspiration, social and environmental inequalities exist throughout greater Los Angeles. Previous research has identified and mapped pollutant levels, demographic information, and the population's socioeconomic status and health issues. Nevertheless, the complex interrelationships between these factors remain unclear. To close this knowledge gap, we first measured the spatial centrality using sDNA software. These data were then integrated with other socioeconomic and health data collected from CalEnvironScreen, with census tract as the unit of analysis. Finally, structural equation modeling (SEM) was executed to explore direct, indirect, and total effects among variables. The results show that the White population tends to reside in the more segregated areas and lives closer to green space, contributing to higher housing stability, financial security, and more education attainment. In contrast, people of color, especially Latinx, experience the opposite of the environmental benefits. Spatial centrality exhibits a significant indirect effect on environmental justice by influencing ethnicity composition and pollution levels. Moreover, green space accessibility significantly influences environmental justice via pollution. These findings can assist decision-makers to create a more inclusive society and curtail social segregation for all individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Jiang
- Landscape Justice Initiative, School of Architecture, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA;
- Stillwater Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90013, USA
| | - Yufeng Yang
- Space Syntax Laboratory, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, London WC1H 0AY, UK
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Blansky D, Fazzari M, Mantzaris I, Rohan T, Dean Hosgood H. Racial and ethnic differences in all-cause mortality among Hispanics diagnosed with follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the Bronx, NY. Cancer Causes Control 2022; 33:137-147. [PMID: 34677741 PMCID: PMC9737328 DOI: 10.1007/s10552-021-01507-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Research suggests better survival among Hispanics with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW); however, less is known about racial/ethnic survival differences in follicular lymphoma (FL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). METHODS We identified incident FL and CLL cases diagnosed between 2005 and 2016 at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the association between race/ethnicity and all-cause mortality among FL and CLL separately. RESULTS Of the 201 FL patients, 39.3% were NHW, 19.4% non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and 41.3% Hispanic, with a similar distribution among CLL patients. After adjusting for International Prognostic Index factors, sex, and chemotherapy, Hispanics with FL had lower all-cause mortality compared to NHWs (HR = 0.22; 95% CI 0.08-0.63), similar to prior DLBCL findings. All-cause mortality did not differ between NHBs and NHWs for FL or by any race/ethnicity for CLL. CONCLUSION In our diverse, urban population, we found that Hispanic diagnosed with FL had lower all-cause mortality compared to NHWs. We found no significant difference in all-cause mortality between Hispanics and NHWs diagnosed with CLL. Our study adds to the growing literature on racial and ethnic differences in survival among Hispanics with hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna Blansky
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
| | - Melissa Fazzari
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | | | - Thomas Rohan
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - H Dean Hosgood
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
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A Geographic Information System-Based Indicator of Waste Risk to Investigate the Health Impact of Landfills and Uncontrolled Dumping Sites. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17165789. [PMID: 32785131 PMCID: PMC7459911 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17165789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Uncontrolled and poor waste management practices are widespread. The global health impact of hazardous waste exposure is controversial, but the excess of some diseases appears to be consistent. The Geographic Information System (GIS, ESRI Inc., Rome, Italy) method used to estimate the waste risk exposure, in an area with many illegal waste dumps and burning sites, is described. A GIS geodatabase (ESRI ArcGIS format) of waste sites’ data was built. A municipal GIS-based indicator of waste risk (Municipal Risk Index: MRI) has been computed, based on type and quantity of waste, typology of waste disposal, known or potential environmental contamination by waste and population living near waste sites. 2767 waste sites were present in an area 426 km2 large. 38% of the population lived near one or more waste sites (100 m). Illegal/uncontrolled waste dumps, including waste burning areas, constituted about 90% of all sites. The 38 investigated municipalities were categorized into 4 classes of MRI. The GIS approach identified a widespread impact of waste sites and the municipalities likely to be most exposed. The highest score of the MRI included the municipalities with the most illegal hazardous waste dumps and burning sites. The GIS-geodatabase provided information to contrast and to prosecute illegal waste trafficking and mismanagements.
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Idavain J, Lang K, Tomasova J, Lang A, Orru H. Cancer Incidence Trends in the Oil Shale Industrial Region in Estonia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E3833. [PMID: 32481656 PMCID: PMC7312168 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17113833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Large oil shale resources are found in Eastern Estonia, where the mineral resource is mined, excavated, and used for electricity generation and shale oil extraction. During industrial activities in the last 100 years, pollutants have been emitted in large amounts, some of which are toxic and carcinogenic. The current study aims to analyse time trends in cancer incidence in the oil shale industry-affected areas and compare them with overall cancer incidence rates and trends in Estonia. We analysed Estonian Cancer Registry data on selected cancer sites that have been previously indicated to have relationships with industrial activities like oil shale extraction. We included lung cancer, kidney cancer, urinary bladder cancer, leukaemia, breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. A statistically significantly higher lung cancer age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was found during the study period (1992-2015) only in males in the oil shale areas as compared to males in Estonia overall: 133.6 and 95.5 per 100,000, respectively. However, there appeared to be a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the lung cancer ASIR in males in the oil shale areas (overall decrease 28.9%), whereas at the same time, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in non-oil shale areas (13.3%) and in Estonia overall (1.5%). Other cancer sites did not show higher ASIRs in the oil shale industrial areas compared to other areas in Estonia. Possible explanations could be improved environmental quality, socio-economic factors, and other morbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Idavain
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
- Department of Health Statistics, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Katrin Lang
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
| | - Jelena Tomasova
- Estonian Health Board, Paldiski mnt 81, 10617 Tallinn, Estonia;
| | - Aavo Lang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia;
| | - Hans Orru
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.L.); (H.O.)
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, SE-901 87 Umea, Sweden
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Russo PN, Carpenter DO. Air Emissions from Natural Gas Facilities in New York State. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16091591. [PMID: 31067657 PMCID: PMC6540346 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16091591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
While New York has banned fracking, new and expanded natural gas pipelines are being constructed across the state. Our previous studies have reported that compressor stations are a major source of air pollution at fracking sites. We have used two federal datasets, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Emissions Inventory and Greenhouse Gas Inventory, to determine what is known concerning emissions from the compressor stations along natural gas pipelines in the state. From a total of 74 compressor stations only 18 report to EPA on emissions. In the seven year period between 2008 and 2014 they released a total of 36.99 million pounds of air pollutants, not including CO2 and methane. This included emissions of 39 chemicals known to be human carcinogens. There was in addition 6.1 billion pounds of greenhouse gases release from ten stations in a single year. These data clearly underestimate the total releases from the state's natural gas transportation and distribution system. However, they demonstrate significant releases of air pollutants, some of which are known to cause human disease. In addition, they release large amounts of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale N Russo
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, 5 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
| | - David O Carpenter
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, 5 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
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Pasetto R, Mattioli B, Marsili D. Environmental Justice in Industrially Contaminated Sites. A Review of Scientific Evidence in the WHO European Region. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E998. [PMID: 30893943 PMCID: PMC6466395 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16060998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In the WHO European Region the topic of contaminated sites is considered a priority among environment and health themes. Communities living in or close to contaminated sites tend to be characterized by a high prevalence of ethnic minorities and by an unfavorable socioeconomic status so rising issues of environmental justice. A structured review was undertaken to describe the contents of original scientific studies analyzing distributive and procedural justice in industrially contaminated sites carried out in the WHO European Region in the period 2010⁻2017. A systematic search of the literature was performed. In total, 14 articles were identified. Wherever assessments on environmental inequalities were carried out, an overburden of socioeconomic deprivation or vulnerability, with very few exemptions, was observed. The combined effects of environmental and socioeconomic pressures on health were rarely addressed. Results show that the studies on environmental and health inequalities and mechanisms of their generation in areas affected by industrially contaminated sites in the WHO European Region are in their early stages, with exemption of UK. Future efforts should be directed to improve study strategies with national and local assessments in order to provide evidence for equity-oriented interventions to reduce environmental exposure and related health risks caused by industrial contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Pasetto
- Department of Environment and Health, National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy.
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Benedetta Mattioli
- National Centre for Global Health, National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Daniela Marsili
- Department of Environment and Health, National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy.
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites, National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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Werder EJ, Gam KB, Engel LS, Kwok RK, Ekenga CC, Curry MD, Chambers DM, Blair A, Miller AK, Birnbaum LS, Sandler DP. Predictors of blood volatile organic compound levels in Gulf coast residents. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2018; 28:358-370. [PMID: 29288257 PMCID: PMC6013310 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-017-0010-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
To address concerns among Gulf Coast residents about ongoing exposures to volatile organic compounds, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and m-xylene/p-xylene (BTEX), we characterized current blood levels and identified predictors of BTEX among Gulf state residents. We collected questionnaire data on recent exposures and measured blood BTEX levels in a convenience sample of 718 Gulf residents. Because BTEX is rapidly cleared from the body, blood levels represent recent exposures in the past 24 h. We compared participants' levels of blood BTEX to a nationally representative sample. Among nonsmokers we assessed predictors of blood BTEX levels using linear regression, and predicted the risk of elevated BTEX levels using modified Poisson regression. Blood BTEX levels in Gulf residents were similar to national levels. Among nonsmokers, sex and reporting recent smoky/chemical odors predicted blood BTEX. The change in log benzene was -0.26 (95% CI: -0.47, -0.04) and 0.72 (0.02, 1.42) for women and those who reported odors, respectively. Season, time spent away from home, and self-reported residential proximity to Superfund sites (within a half mile) were statistically associated with benzene only, however mean concentration was nearly an order of magnitude below that of cigarette smokers. Among these Gulf residents, smoking was the primary contributor to blood BTEX levels, but other factors were also relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J Werder
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kaitlyn B Gam
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Lawrence S Engel
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Richard K Kwok
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | | | - David M Chambers
- Emergency Response and Air Toxicants Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Aaron Blair
- Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Aubrey K Miller
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Linda S Birnbaum
- Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Dale P Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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Fazzo L, Minichilli F, Santoro M, Ceccarini A, Della Seta M, Bianchi F, Comba P, Martuzzi M. Hazardous waste and health impact: a systematic review of the scientific literature. Environ Health 2017; 16:107. [PMID: 29020961 PMCID: PMC5637250 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-017-0311-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Waste is part of the agenda of the European Environment and Health Process and included among the topics of the Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health. Disposal and management of hazardous waste are worldwide challenges. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the evidence of the health impact of hazardous waste exposure, applying transparent and a priori defined methods. The following five steps, based on pre-defined systematic criteria, were applied. 1. Specify the research question, in terms of "Population-Exposure-Comparators-Outcomes" (PECO). POPULATION people living near hazardous waste sites; Exposure: exposure to hazardous waste; Comparators: all comparators; Outcomes: all diseases/health disorders. 2. Carry out the literature search, in Medline and EMBASE. 3. Select studies for inclusion: original epidemiological studies, published between 1999 and 2015, on populations residentially exposed to hazardous waste. 4. Assess the quality of selected studies, taking into account study design, exposure and outcome assessment, confounding control. 5. Rate the confidence in the body of evidence for each outcome taking into account the reliability of each study, the strength of the association and concordance of results.Fifty-seven papers of epidemiological investigations on the health status of populations living near hazardous waste sites were selected for the evidence evaluation. The association between 95 health outcomes (diseases and disorders) and residential exposure to hazardous waste sites was evaluated. Health effects of residential hazardous waste exposure, previously partially unrecognized, were highlighted. Sufficient evidence was found of association between exposure to oil industry waste that releases high concentrations of hydrogen sulphide and acute symptoms. The evidence of causal relationship with hazardous waste was defined as limited for: liver, bladder, breast and testis cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, asthma, congenital anomalies overall and anomalies of the neural tube, urogenital, connective and musculoskeletal systems, low birth weight and pre-term birth; evidence was defined as inadequate for the other health outcomes. The results, although not conclusive, provide indications that more effective public health policies on hazardous waste management are urgently needed. International, national and local authorities should oppose and eliminate poor, outdated and illegal practices of waste disposal, including illegal transboundary trade, and increase support regulation and its enforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Fazzo
- Department of Environment and Health, Unit of Environmental and Social Epidemiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - F. Minichilli
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Unit of Environmental epidemiology and disease registries, National Research Council, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - M. Santoro
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Unit of Environmental epidemiology and disease registries, National Research Council, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - A. Ceccarini
- Documentation Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - M. Della Seta
- Documentation Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - F. Bianchi
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Unit of Environmental epidemiology and disease registries, National Research Council, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - P. Comba
- Department of Environment and Health, Unit of Environmental and Social Epidemiology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - M. Martuzzi
- Centre for Environment and Health, World Health Organization - Regional Office for Europe, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, D-53113 Bonn, Germany
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Patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) from a socially disadvantaged environment show poorer therapeutic outcome. J Public Health (Oxf) 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10389-016-0767-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Benchmark Doses Based on Abnormality of WBC or Micronucleus Frequency in Benzene-Exposed Chinese Workers. J Occup Environ Med 2016; 58:e39-44. [DOI: 10.1097/jom.0000000000000639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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13
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Triassi M, Alfano R, Illario M, Nardone A, Caporale O, Montuori P. Environmental pollution from illegal waste disposal and health effects: a review on the "triangle of death". INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2015; 12:1216-36. [PMID: 25622140 PMCID: PMC4344663 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120201216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The term “triangle of death” was used for the first time by Senior and Mazza in the journal The Lancet Oncology referring to the eastern area of the Campania Region (Southern Italy) which has one of the worst records of illegal waste dumping practices. In the past decades, many studies have focused on the potential of illegal waste disposal to cause adverse effects on human health in this area. The great heterogeneity in the findings, and the bias in media communication has generated great healthcare doubts, anxieties and alarm. This paper addresses a review of the up-to-date literature on the “triangle of death”, bringing together the available information on the occurrence and severity of health effects related to illegal waste disposal. The Scopus database was searched using the search terms “waste”, “Campania”, “Naples”, “triangle of death” and “human biomonitoring”. Despite the methodological and sampling heterogeneity between the studies, this review examines the evidence from published data concerning cancer incidence, childhood mortality and birth defects, so that the current situation, knowledge gaps and research priorities can be established. The review aims to provide a contribution to the scientific community, and to respond to the concerns of the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Triassi
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy.
| | - Rossella Alfano
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy.
| | - Maddalena Illario
- Department of Traslational Medical Science, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy.
| | - Antonio Nardone
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy.
| | - Oreste Caporale
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy.
| | - Paolo Montuori
- Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy.
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14
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Lu X, Lessner L, Carpenter DO. Association between hospital discharge rate for female breast cancer and residence in a zip code containing hazardous waste sites. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2014; 134:375-81. [PMID: 25212265 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2014] [Revised: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to chemicals plays a role in risk of breast cancer. However, possible associations between risk of breast cancer and residential proximity to hazardous waste sites (HWSs) have not been reported. METHODS We determined rates of hospital discharge with a diagnosis of female breast cancer in relation to residence in a zip code containing HWSs in New York State (NYS) after adjustment for ethnicity, age, income and urbanicity. Waste exposure was assessed by both the number of waste sites and the type of contaminants. Negative binomial regression was used to test the associations. RESULTS After controlling for confounders, the hospital discharge rate of breast cancer for women living in zip codes having four or more HWSs or in zip codes having one HWS increased significantly (at the 0.05 level) by 9.1% and 6.4%, as compared to those living in a zip code with no HWS. The association for women living in zip codes having two or three HWSs was not significant. This indicates that the extent of exposure cannot be assessed solely by the number of waste sites. The discharge rate for women living in zip codes containing at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) waste site was significantly increased 5.6% as compared to those living in a zip code without any HWS, while the increases were not significant for women living in zip codes containing waste sites with persistent organic pollutants (POPs) or other contaminants. The significant associations were stronger for African American than Caucasian women and stronger in more urbanized than in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS Residence within a geographic area (defined by zip codes) that includes a hazardous waste site with VOCs is significantly associated with an increased rate of hospitalization for breast cancer, and the association is stronger for African American than Caucasian women and stronger in more urbanized than in rural areas after adjustment for the confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Lu
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China; Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, 5 University Place, A217, Rensselaer, New York 12144, USA.
| | - Lawrence Lessner
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, 5 University Place, A217, Rensselaer, New York 12144, USA.
| | - David O Carpenter
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, 5 University Place, A217, Rensselaer, New York 12144, USA.
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15
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Vinceti M, Rothman KJ, Crespi CM, Sterni A, Cherubini A, Guerra L, Maffeis G, Ferretti E, Fabbi S, Teggi S, Consonni D, De Girolamo G, Meggiato A, Palazzi G, Paolucci P, Malagoli C. Leukemia risk in children exposed to benzene and PM10 from vehicular traffic: a case-control study in an Italian population. Eur J Epidemiol 2012; 27:781-90. [PMID: 22892901 PMCID: PMC3493667 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-012-9727-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2012] [Accepted: 07/28/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Benzene, a recognized occupational leukemogen in adults, has been hypothesized to also increase the risk of childhood leukemia. We carried out a population-based case–control study in a northern Italy community involving 83 cases with acute childhood leukemia diagnosed in the years 1998–2009 and 332 matched controls. We assessed residential exposure to benzene and to particulate matter ≤10 μm (PM10) from motorized traffic using geocoded residences and detailed emission and dispersion modeling. Exposure to benzene, and to a lesser extent to PM10, appeared to be independently associated with an excess leukemia risk. When we stratified the study population by age and by leukemia subtype, the relative risk associated with benzene exposure was higher among children aged less than 5 years, and despite small numbers this relation appeared to be considerably stronger for acute myeloid leukemia than for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to low levels of benzene released from motorized traffic may increase the risk of childhood leukemia, and suggest a possible independent effect of PM10, although unmeasured confounding due to other pollutants cannot be ruled out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Vinceti
- CREAGEN, Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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