Dioxins levels in breast milk of women living in Caserta and Naples : Assessment of environmental risk factors

Abstract

Naples and Caserta provinces are extensively affected by the illegal dumping of hazardous and urban wastes, which were periodically set to fire. Several studies were made on the possible health impact of this illegal waste management. The aim of the study was to detect dioxins levels in breast milk of volunteer primiparae and to assess the possible source of dioxins in the affected areas. The authors determined dioxins levels in breast milk from 100 primiparae from the study area and collected anamnestic information on donors. We determined dioxins levels in breast milk from 100 primiparae from the study area and collected anamnestic information on donors. As a measure of environmental risk of dioxins (EDR) we used the interpolated values of dioxins concentration in buffalo milk samples collected in the study area. Correlations between the EDR, age of the mother, smoking habit, cheese consumption, occupation in activity at risk, presence of plants for the disposal of toxic waste or illegal burning of solid waste near the residence of the donor and dioxin level in breast milk were investigated. The dioxin level in breast milk is significantly correlated to the EDR, the age of the sampled women and the presence of illegal burning of solid waste.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation in Acne Vulgaris Skin: A Case Series from the Region of Naples, Italy

“…In this context we have explored the expression of CYP1A1 in the acne lesions of 16 patients living in the region of Naples, Italy, where different epidemiological studies suggest an environmental contamination by dioxins [16,17,18,19,20]. …”

RASopathic comedone‐like or cystic lesions induced by vemurafenib: a model of skin lesions similar but not identical to those induced by dioxins MADISH

“…Besides known chloracnegens from the dioxin‐like family, a great variety of compounds may activate the AhR‐dependent signalling pathway. In our project to analyse the dermal cysts of patients presenting such a clinical pattern, we found CYP1A1 expression in patients living in areas submitted to the fumes of pollutant waste incinerators, or close to public dumps . Other patients may have been exposed to various chemical during their professional activity.…”

Hazardous waste and health impact: a systematic review of the scientific literature

“…Other studies [32, 33] regarded areas in which biomonitoring detected presence of dioxins in breast milk of women [34]. In the latter studies the synergistic effects between different risk factors, including B hepatitis virus and hazardous waste contaminants, may be reasonably hypothesized.…”

“…Heavy metals in soil and groundwater, and β-HCH in blood of some residents were reported in the Sacco river areas [31]; hexachlorocyclohexanes, benzylchlorides, organic sulfur compounds, chlorobenzenes, and sodium sulfide/sulfhydrates polluted the Love Canal site [36], where a biomonitoring study reported also trichlorobenzene and dichlorobenzene contamination [37]. Dioxins were detected in biomonitoring studies in Campania waste sites [34] located in towns where increased bladder cancer risk was reported [32, 33]. …”