Aims. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of mesothelioma in Biancavilla, a town in Sicily, Italy contaminated by an asbestos-like fluoroedenitic fibre, in the period 1998-2004 and to ensure epidemiological monitoring of the area. Materials and methods. Pleural mesothelioma cases (ICD9 163) among residents of the municipality of Biancavilla diagnosed between 1/1/1998 and 31/12/2004, were identified using hospital admission data. Death certificates reporting mesothelioma among Biancavilla residents were gathered to make the survey exhaustive. The Ragusa Cancer Registry provided individual clinical records and pathology files. Sex-specific crude and standardized incidence rates were calculated for ascertained cases, and for total cases. The Italian population of 1991 was taken as the reference to calculate standardised rates with the direct method in order to compare findings with those of the National Mesothelioma Registry (Registro Nazionale dei Mesoteliomi = ReNaM). Results. Nineteen cases (9 men and 10 women) of mesothelioma occurred in the study period. For eight subjects clinical records and pathology files were found (ascertained cases): the crude incidence rate was 5.1x10(-5) (males 6.6, females 3.7). After standardisation, the rate for overall cases was 5.4x10(-5) (males 7.4, females 3.6). Including the remaining eleven cases with information to be completed (suspected cases), the crude and standardised rates were 12.1 (males 11.9, females 12.3) and 13.9 (males 13.5, females 14.4), respectively. Mesothelioma incidence in Biancavilla is comparable to that of Regions where the presence of important sources of asbestos exposure caused a significant increase in the occurrence of the disease. Conclusions. The elevated incidence rate of pleural mesothelioma in Biancavilla supports the notion of a high risk area. Experimental induction of mesothelioma in rats has confirmed the fibres' aetiological role. Land improvement and decontamination of the area were advised by the Italian National Health Institute. Further epidemiological surveillance is required in order to set priorities for environmental reclamation and to evaluate the efficacy of the public health interventions which have been adopted.
An estimate of pleural mesothelioma incidence in Biancavilla, Sicily, Italy, 1998-2004
Scondotto S;
2007-01-01
Abstract
Aims. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of mesothelioma in Biancavilla, a town in Sicily, Italy contaminated by an asbestos-like fluoroedenitic fibre, in the period 1998-2004 and to ensure epidemiological monitoring of the area. Materials and methods. Pleural mesothelioma cases (ICD9 163) among residents of the municipality of Biancavilla diagnosed between 1/1/1998 and 31/12/2004, were identified using hospital admission data. Death certificates reporting mesothelioma among Biancavilla residents were gathered to make the survey exhaustive. The Ragusa Cancer Registry provided individual clinical records and pathology files. Sex-specific crude and standardized incidence rates were calculated for ascertained cases, and for total cases. The Italian population of 1991 was taken as the reference to calculate standardised rates with the direct method in order to compare findings with those of the National Mesothelioma Registry (Registro Nazionale dei Mesoteliomi = ReNaM). Results. Nineteen cases (9 men and 10 women) of mesothelioma occurred in the study period. For eight subjects clinical records and pathology files were found (ascertained cases): the crude incidence rate was 5.1x10(-5) (males 6.6, females 3.7). After standardisation, the rate for overall cases was 5.4x10(-5) (males 7.4, females 3.6). Including the remaining eleven cases with information to be completed (suspected cases), the crude and standardised rates were 12.1 (males 11.9, females 12.3) and 13.9 (males 13.5, females 14.4), respectively. Mesothelioma incidence in Biancavilla is comparable to that of Regions where the presence of important sources of asbestos exposure caused a significant increase in the occurrence of the disease. Conclusions. The elevated incidence rate of pleural mesothelioma in Biancavilla supports the notion of a high risk area. Experimental induction of mesothelioma in rats has confirmed the fibres' aetiological role. Land improvement and decontamination of the area were advised by the Italian National Health Institute. Further epidemiological surveillance is required in order to set priorities for environmental reclamation and to evaluate the efficacy of the public health interventions which have been adopted.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
