摘要：Background. The assessment of individual exposure to toxicants in industrially contaminatedareas is difficult when multiple productions are active close to residential areas.Two thermoelectric power plants and a large harbor have been operating since the ’60s inthe area of Civitavecchia (North of Rome).Methods. The ABC (Ambiente e Biomonitoraggio nell’area di Civitavecchia, Environmentand Biomonitoring in Civitavecchia) program involved, in the period 2013-2014,residents in Civitavecchia and in the nearby municipalities (Santa Marinella, Allumiere,Tolfa and Tarquinia). They were randomly selected from the Municipal Register’s dataand their residence addresses were geocoded using GIS techniques. Biomonitoring ofthe following urinary metals, Sb, Be, Mo, Cd, Sn, W, Ir, Pt, Hg, Tl, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni,Cu, Zn, Rh, Pd, As were performed. Glucose and lipid metabolism, liver, renal, andendocrine function were evaluated through blood laboratory tests. Tests of lung functionwere also carried out as well as saturometry (oxygen rate in the blood with an illuminatedsensor placed on the fingertip), anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. Informationon individual characteristics, histories of exposure, such as the consumptionof local food, occupational history, lifestyle and medical history were collected througha validated questionnaire. Samples of nails and hair were also collected. The biologicalmaterial (blood, urine, nails and hair) was stored in a biobank for future analysis relatedto the possible mechanisms of biological damage. The study protocol received the approvalof the local ethics committee.Results. A total of 1177 residents were enrolled (58% female, 60% with a secondary orgraduate school degree). No particular differences in metal concentrations based on themunicipality of residence were observed. For arsenic, mercury, lead, and tungsten somedifferences between the two geographical areas were observed, probably due to differentdiet, lifestyle (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking, use of jewelry and piercings, tattoos,physical activity, hormonal and mineral supplements, and drugs), and occupational exposure.Conclusions. The undergoing study on the association between biomarkers concentrationand pollutants concentrations − estimated using a dispersion modeling approach,and adjusting for personal characteristics and concomitant other environmental exposure− could clarify the individual exposure of the residents in this industrial area.
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