Air pollution impact assessment on agroecosystem and human health characterisation in the area surrounding the industrial settlement of Milazzo (Italy): a multidisciplinary approach

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.

Coastal dune systems and disturbance factors: monitoring and analysis in central Italy

“…The transects 1-9 are located in the Municipality of Tarquinia, while 10-19 fall within the Montalto di Castro one Another major impact to the area is the ENEL power plant, the largest Italian thermo-electric plant (3,600 MW). The effects of thermo-electric power plants emissions on dune vegetation have not been investigated; however, the effects on agricultural crops and forest vegetation have shown crop loss and changes in the structure of plant communities (Triolo et al 2008).…”

Bioluminescence‐based assays for assessing eco‐ and genotoxicity of airborne emissions

“…One serious limitation of using extracts is that the toxic effect depends mostly on particle‐bound compounds . In addition, during extract preparation organic solvents are used such as dichloromethane (DCM) , acetone:dymethylsulphoxide (DMSO) mixture or methane and n‐hexane . These extracts do not reflect realistic exposure pathways and might overestimate ecological risk as not only the bioavailable fraction is assessed.…”

“…Despite all the drawbacks, using elutriate/extract is the most often applied sample preparation method. Triolo et al used the Microtox® system for assessing the environmental health effect of industrial emission on agriculture in the vicinity of Milazzo (Italy) . Roig et al also applied this assay to assess the ecotoxicity of airborne pollutants in different parts of Catalonia (Spain) .…”

Uncertain spatial reasoning of environmental risks in GIS using genetic learning algorithms

“…The impacts of air pollution on the environment, agriculture, and health in areas surrounding thermoelectric power plants and industrial sites have received increasing attention, with the goal of preventing or minimizing adverse effects or restoring already compromised ecosystems (Triolo et al 2008). For environmental risk assessments, change detection systems can use various remote sensing and geographic information analytical tools with expert knowledge to delineate the risk areas (Brink and Eva 2009;Kaiser 2009;Makkeasorn et al 2009).…”