Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

An Integrated Approach for the Environmental Characterization of a Wide Area Potentially Contaminated (Southern Italy)

Version 1 : Received: 1 June 2017 / Approved: 2 June 2017 / Online: 2 June 2017 (06:25:00 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Ducci, D.; Albanese, S.; Boccia, L.; Celentano, E.; Cervelli, E.; Corniello, A.; Crispo, A.; De Vivo, B.; Iodice, P.; Langella, C.; Lima, A.; Manno, M.; Palladino, M.; Pindozzi, S.; Rigillo, M.; Romano, N.; Sellerino, M.; Senatore, A.; Speranza, G.; Fiorentino, N.; Fagnano, M. An Integrated Approach for the Environmental Characterization of a Wide Potentially Contaminated Area in Southern Italy. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 693. Ducci, D.; Albanese, S.; Boccia, L.; Celentano, E.; Cervelli, E.; Corniello, A.; Crispo, A.; De Vivo, B.; Iodice, P.; Langella, C.; Lima, A.; Manno, M.; Palladino, M.; Pindozzi, S.; Rigillo, M.; Romano, N.; Sellerino, M.; Senatore, A.; Speranza, G.; Fiorentino, N.; Fagnano, M. An Integrated Approach for the Environmental Characterization of a Wide Potentially Contaminated Area in Southern Italy. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 693.

Abstract

This paper deals with the environmental characterization of a large and densely populated area, with a poor reputation for contamination, considering the contribution of environmental features (air, soil, soil hydraulic and groundwater) and the potential effects on human health. The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) has made possible a georeferenced inventory and, by overlaying environmental information, an operational synthesis of comprehensive environmental conditions. The cumulative effects on environmental features were evaluated, taking into account superposition effects, by means of the spatial multicriteria decision analysis (S-MCDA). The application of the S-MCDA for converging the combination of heterogeneous factors, related to soil, land and water, deeply studied by heterogeneous groups of experts, constitutes the novelty of the paper. The results confirmed an overall higher potential of exposure to contaminants in the environment and higher mortality rates in the study area for some tumours, but hospital admissions for tumours were generally similar to the regional trend. Besides, mortality data may be strictly dependent on the poor socioeconomic conditions, quality of therapy and a lack of welfare in the area relative to the rest of Italy. Finally, as regards the possible relationship between presence of contaminants in the environment and health conditions of the population no definite conclusions can be drawn, although the present study encourages the use of the new proposed methods, that increase the possibilities for studying the combined effect of more environmental factors.

Keywords

air pollution; soil hydraulic parameters; geochemical characterization of soils; aquifer vulnerability to contamination; health assessment; multi-criteria environmental analysis

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science

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