Abstract
In order to evaluate the impact of atmospheric pollutants emitted by the industrial settlement of Milazzo (Italy) on agriculture, sulphur dioxide and ozone levels in air were monitored and the data were used to estimate yield losses of the most widespread cultures. Trace element concentrations in crops and soils were also detected and metabolic profiles of soil microbial communities were considered. Vibrio fischeri test was used to appraise airborne pollutant ecotoxicity and epidemiological studies on causes of death distribution were carried out to characterize health state of people living in the area. All the sampling points were selected in farms on the basis of a theoretical meteo-diffusive model of industrial air pollutants. Experimental SO2 and O3 values mainly exceeded the threshold established by Italian and EU regulations to protect vegetation and they correspond to estimated significant crop losses. Conversely toxic element residues in soils and in agroalimentary products were generally lower than the fixed values. SO2 and O3 concentrations, toxic element contents and ecotoxicity levels of airborne pollutants were not related only to industrial site emissions, while the fluctuations on metabolic profiles of soil microbial communities seem to agree with the predicted deposition of xenobiotic compounds from the industrial plants. The epidemiological study evidenced a better health state of populations living in the investigated area than in the Messina province and the Sicily region but, inside the area, males living in the municipalities closest to the industrial settlement exhibited a worst health state than those in the very far ones.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altshuller, A. P. (1984). Atmospheric particle sulfur and sulfur dioxide relationship at urban and non urban locations. Atmospheric Environment, 18(7), 1421–1431.
Aunan, K., Pàtzay, G., Asbjørn Aaheim, H., & Martin Seip, H. (1998). Health and environmental benefits from air pollution reductions in Hungary. Science of the Total Environment, 212, 245–268.
Benedetti, M., Iavarone, & Comba, P. (2001). Cancer risk associated with residential proximity to industrial sites: A review. Archives of Environmental Health, 56, 342–349.
Bhopal, R. S., Moffatt, S., Pless-Mulloli, T., Phillimore, P. R., Foy, C., Dunn, C. E., et al. (1998). Does living near a constellation of petrochemical, steel and other industries impair health? Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 55, 812–822.
Breslow, N. E., & Day, N. E. (1987). Statistical methods in cancer research I: The design and analysis of chort studies. IARC Scientific Publication N. 82. Lyon: IARC.
Briat, J. F., & Sebrun, M. (1999). Plant responses to metal toxicity. C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris. Sciences de la vie/Life Sciences, 332, 43–54.
Briggs, G. A. (1975). Plume rise predictions, lectures on air pollution and environmental impact analysis III (pp. 59–111). Boston: Haugen.
Cagnetti, P., Brofferio, C., & Ferrara, V. (1985). Metodologie per la valutazione delle concentrazioni in aria e delle contaminazioni del suolo da rilasci aeriformi radioattivi. ENEA Technical Report, RT/PAS/85/26, Rome.
Campbell, C. D., Grayson, S. J., & Hist, D. J. (1997). Use of rhizosphere carbon sources tests to discriminate soil microbial communities. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 30, 33–41.
Camposano, F., Cirillo, M., & Triolo, L. (1986). Elaborazione di funzioni dose risposta degli effetti di SO2 sulle rese di specie agricole. ENEA Technical Report/Studi Vasa (8), Rome.
Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (Natural Environment Research Council) (2002). Economic assessment of crop yield losses from ozone exposure. Contract EPG 1/3/170-The UNECE International Cooperative Programme on Vegetation.
Cetin, E., Odabasi, M., & Seyfioglu, R. (2003). Ambient volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations around a petrochemical complex and a petroleum refinery. Science of the Total Environment, 312, 103–112.
Chen, T. B., Wong, J. W. C., Zhon, H., & Wong, M. H. (1997). Assessment of trace metal distribution and contamination in surface soils of Hong Kong. Environmental Pollution, 96, 6–68.
Collins, W. J., Stevenson, D. S., Jonson, C. E., & Dervent, R. G. (2000). The European regional ozone distribution and its links with the global scale for the years 1992 and 2015. Atmospheric Environment, 34, 2555–267.
De Santis, F., Allegrini, I., Fazio, M. C., Pasella, D., & Piredda, R. (1997). Development of a passive sampling technique for determination of nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide in ambient air. Analytica Chimica Acta, 346, 127–134.
Eliassen, A., & Saltbones, J. (1983). Modelling of long-range transport of sulphur over Europe: A two year model run and some model experiments. Atmospheric Environment, 17(8), 1457–1473.
Elliot, P., & Wartenberg, D. (2004). Spatial epidemiology: Current approaches and future challenges. Environmental Health Perspectives, 9, 998–1006.
Ferraresi, A., & Corticelli, C. (2002). Cosa sono i metalli pesanti che si “nascondono” nel cibo. Agricoltura, 6, 17–19.
Fontana, V., Baldi, R., Franchini, M., Gridelli, P., Ceppi, M., Magnoni, U., et al. (2000). Epidemiologic study of the residents of southeastern area of the Municipality of La Spezia. Epidemiologia e Prevenzione, 24, 172–179.
Forastiere, F., Peducci, C. A., Di Pietro, A., Miceli, M., Rapiti, E., & Bargagli, A. (1994). Mortality among urban policemen in Rome. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 26, 785–798.
Fritze, H., Perkiömäki, J., Saarela, U., Katainen, R., Tikka, P., Yrjälä, K., et al. (2000). Effect of Cd-containing wood ash on the microflora of coniferous forest humus. FEMS Microbiology, Ecology, 32, 43–51.
Fuhrer, J., & Booker, F. (2003). Ecological issues related to ozone: Agricultural issues. Environment International, 29, 141–154.
Fuhrer, J., Skarby, L., & Ashmore, M. R. (1997). Critical levels for ozone effects on vegetation in Europe. Environmental Pollution, 97, 91–106.
Garcia-Huidobro, T., Marshall, F. M., & Bell, J. N. B. (2001). A risk assessment of potential agricultural losses due to ambient SO2 in the central regions of Chile. Atmospheric Environment, 35, 4903–4915.
Giorgielli, F., Minnocci, A., Panicucci, A., & Vitagliano, C. (1994). Effects of long-term SO2 on olive tree gas exchange and leaf morphology. ISHS Acta Horticulturae, 356, 185–188 (II International Symposium On Olive Growing).
Haughand, T., Steinnes, E., & Frontasjeva, M. V. (2002). Trace metals in soil and plant subjected to strong chemical pollution. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 137, 343–353.
Hemminki, K., & Pershagen, G. (1994). Cancer risk of air pollution: Epidemiological evidence. Environmental Health Perspectives, 102, 187–192.
Hutckins, J. N., Tubergen, M. W., & Manuweera, G. K. (1990). Semipermeable membrane devices containing model lipid: A new approach to monitoring the bioavailability of lipophilic contaminants and estimating their bioconcentration potential. Chemosphere, 20(5), 533–552.
Isidori, M., Ferrara, M., Lavorgna, M., Nardelli, A., & Parrella, A. (2003). In situ monitoring of urban air in Southern Italy with the Tradescantia micronucleus bioassay and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). Chemosphere, 52(1), 121–126.
ISPESL (1995). Mortalità per professioni in Italia negli anni ’80. Progetto ReSò. Collana Quaderni Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro N.2.
ISTAT (2000). V Censimento Generale dell’Agricoltura.
Jedrychowski, W. (1999). Ambient air pollution and respiratory health in the East Baltic region. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 25(Suppl 3), 5–16.
Johnson, B. T., Petty, J. D., & Huckins, J. N. (2000). Collection and detection of lipophilic chemical contaminants in water, sediment, soil and air SPMD-TOX. Environmental Toxicology, 15(3), 248–252.
Kabata-Pendias, A. (2000). Trace elements in soils and plants (3rd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: Lewis, CRC.
Kafdar, K., Freedman, L. S., Goodall, C. R., & Tukey, J. W. (1996). Urban city-related trends in lung cancer mortality in US counties: White females and white males, 1970–1987. International Journal of Epidemiology, 25, 918–932.
Kärenlampi, L., & Skarby, L. (1996). Critical levels for ozone in Europe: Testing and finalizing the concepts. UNECE Workshop Report. University of Kuopio, Dept. Ecology and Environmental Science, Finland, 363 pp.
Katsouyanni, K., Touloumi, G., Spix, C., Schwartz, J., Balducci, F., Medina, S., et al. (1997). Short term effects of ambient sulphur dioxide and particulate matter on mortality in 12 European cities: Results from time series data from the APHEA Project. British Medical Journal, 314, 1658–1663.
Knox, E. G., & Gilman, E. A. (1997). Hazard proximities of childhood cancer in Great Britain from 1953–80. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 51, 151–159.
Lebowitz, M. D. (1996). Noncarcinogenic respiratory disease. In R. Bertollini, M. D. Lebowitz, R. Saracci, & A. Savitz (Eds.), Environmental epidemiology: Exposure and disease. New York: World Health Organization, Lewis.
Lohmann, R., Corrigan, B. P., Howsam, M., Jones, K. C., & Ockenden, W. A. (2001). Further development in the use of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as passive samplers for persistent organic pollutants: Field application in a spatial survey of PCDD/Fs and PAHs. Environmental Science & Technology, 35, 2576–2582.
Lorenzini, G. (1999). ‘Ozono’ in Le piante e l’inquinamento dell’aria (p. 116). Bologna: Edagricole–Edizioni Agricole.
Manes, F., De Santis, F., Giannini, M. A., Bazzana, C., Carogna, F., & Allegrini, I. (2003). Integrated ambient ozone evaluation by passive samplers and lower biomonitoring mini-stations. Science of the Total Environment, 308, 133–141.
Martuzzi, M., Mitis, M., Buggeri, A., Terracini, B., & Bertollini, R. (2002). Ambiente e stato di salute nella popolazione delle aree ad alto rischio di crisi ambientale in Italia. Epidemiologia e Prevenzione, 26, 1–56.
Medrado-Faria, M. A., Rodrigues de Almeida, J. W., & Zanetta, D. M. (2001). Gastric and colorectal cancer mortality in an urban and industrialized area of Brazil. Revista do hospital das clinicas. Faculdade de medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo, 56, 47–52.
Microtox Manual (1995). Acute toxicity basic test procedures. Carlsbad, CA, USA: Microbics.
Nali, C., Pucciariello, C., & Lorenzini, G. (2002). Ozone distribution in Central Italy and its effect on crop productivity. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 90, 277–289.
Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità (1997). Ambiente e Salute in Italia. R. Bertollini, M. Fabbri, & N. Di Tanno (Eds.), OMS Centro Europeo Ambiente e Salute, Divisione di Roma. Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore, Roma.
Petty, J. D., Jones, S. B., Huckins, J. N., Cranor, W. L., Parris, J. T., McTague, T. B., et al. (2000a). An approach for assessment of water quality using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and bioindicators tests. Chemosphere, 41, 311–321.
Petty, J. D., Orazio, C. E., Huckins, J. N., Gale, R. W., Lebo, J. A., Meadows, J. C., et al. (2000b). Considerations involved with the use of semipermeable membrane devices for monitoring environmental contaminants. Journal of Chromatography, 879, 83–95.
Petty, J. D., Orazio, C. E., Huckins, J. N., & Zajicek, J. L. (1993). Application of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) as passive air samplers. Chemosphere, 27(9), 1609–1624.
Pleijel, H., Danielsson, H., Ojanperä, K., De Temmerman, L., Högy, P., Badiani, M., et al. (2004). Relationships between ozone exposure and yield loss in European wheat and potato-a comparison of concentration and flux-based exposure indices. Atmospheric Environment, 38, 2259–2269.
Pless-Mulloli, T., Dunn, C. E., Bhopal, R., Phillimore, P., Moffatt, S., & Edward, S. J. (2000). Is it fasible to construct a community profile of exposure to industrial air pollution? Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 57, 542–549.
Pless-Mulloli, T., Phillimore, P., Moffat, S., Bhopal, R., Foy, C., Dunn, C., et al. (1998). Lung cancer, proximity to industry, and poverty in northeast England. Environmental Health Perspectives, 106, 189–196.
Sanders, G. E., Skarby, L., Ashmore, M. R., & Fuhrer, J. (1995). Establishing critical levels for the effects of air pollution on vegetation. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 85, 189–200.
Shi, W., Becker, J., Bishoff, M., Turco, R. F., & Konopka, A. E. (2002). Association of microbial community composition and activity with lead, chromium and hydrocarbon contamination. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68, 3859–3866.
Simonato, L. (1996). Neoplastic diseases (lung cancer excluded). In R. Bertollini, M. D. Lebowitz, R. Saracci, & D. A. Savitz (Eds.), Environmental epidemiology: Exposure and disease. New York: World Health Organization, Lewis.
Soderstrom, H., Hajslova, J., Kocourek, V., Siegmund, B., Kocan, A., Obiedzinski, W., et al. (2005). PAHs and nitrate PAHs in air of five European countries determined using SPMDs as passive samplers. Atmospheric Environment, 39, 1627–1640.
Speer, S., Semenza, J., Kurosaki, T., & Anton-Culver, H. (2002). Risk factors for acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma: A combination of GIS and case-control studies. Journal of Environmental Health, 64, 9–16.
Suarez Varela, M. M., Dominguez Lillo, C., & Llopis Gonzalez, A. (1995). A comparative study of mortality in agricultural and industrial areas in Spain. European Journal of Epidemiology, 11, 633–641.
Triolo, L., Barlattani, M., Ferrandi, L., Letardi, A., Testa, V., Zappa, G., et al. (1996). Valutazione degli effetti degli inquinanti sui sistemi vegetali per lo studio del sito di localizzazione di un inceneritore nel territorio della Provincia di Udine. In ENEA & Province of Udine (Eds.), L’inceneritore nella provincia di Udine (pp. 187–225). Rome: ENEA.
Turrini, A., Saba, A., Perrone, D., Cialda, E., & D’Amicis, A. (2001). Food consumption patterns in Italy: The INN-CA study 1994–1996. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 55, 571–588.
Uccelli, R., Binazzi, A., & Mastrantonio, M. (2002). Descrizione dello stato di salute delle popolazioni residenti in tre siti della Toscana (Livorno, Orbetello e Piombino) mediante il quadro della mortalità per causa. Igiene e Sanità Pubblica, 23(3), 101–118.
Uccelli, R., Mastrantonio, M., & Di Paola, M. (2000). Distribuzione delle cause di morte in comuni a diverso grado di urbanizzazione. Epidemiologia e Prevenzione, 24(1), 28–37.
UNECE (2004). Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution. International cooperative programme on effects of air pollution on natural vegetation and crops. Chapter III-mapping critical levels for vegetation, 13 pp.
Vitagliano, C., Minnocci, A., & Sebastiani, L. (1999). Physiological response of two olive genotypes to gaseous pollutants. ISHS Acta Horticulturae, 474, 431–434 (III International Symposium On Olive Growing).
Wakefield, J., & Elliot, P. (1999). Issues in the statistical analysis of small area health data. Statistics in Medicine, 18, 2377–2399.
Waterhouse, D., Carman, W. J., Schottenfeld, D., Gridley, G., & McLean, S. (1996). Cancer incidence in the rural community of Tecumseh, Michigan: A pattern of increased lymphopoietic neoplasm. Cancer, 77, 763–770.
Westergaard, K., Müller, A. K., Christensen, S., Bloem, J., & Sørensen, S. J. (2001). Effects of tylosin as a disturbance on the soil microbial community. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 33, 2061–2071.
Williams, F. L., & Ogston, S. A. (2002). Identifying population at risk from environmental contamination from point sources. Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 59, 2–8.
World Health Organization (WHO) (1996). Trace elements in human nutrition and health. Geneva.
Yang, C. Y., Cheng, M. F., Chiu, J. F., & Tsai, S. S. (1999). Female lung cancer and petrochemical air pollution in Taiwan. Archives of Environmental Health, 54, 180–185.
Yang, C. Y., Wang, J. D., Chan, C. C., Chen, C. C., Huang, J. S., & Cheng, M. F. (1997). Respiratory and irritant health effects of a population living in a petrochemical-polluted area in Taiwan. Environmental Research, 74, 145–149.
Zanetti, R., & Crosignani, P. (1992). Il Cancro in Italia. I dati di incidenza dei Registri Tumori 1983–1987 (p 425). Torino: Tipolitografia Silvestrelli e Cappelletto s.r.l.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Triolo, L., Binazzi, A., Cagnetti, P. et al. Air pollution impact assessment on agroecosystem and human health characterisation in the area surrounding the industrial settlement of Milazzo (Italy): a multidisciplinary approach. Environ Monit Assess 140, 191–209 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9859-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-007-9859-z