[Exposure to organic halogen compounds in drinking water of 9 Italian regions: exposure to chlorites, chlorates, thrihalomethanes, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene]. / Valutazione dell'esposizione a composti organoalogenati nelle acque potabili di 9 Province Italiane: indagine sulla presenza di cloriti, clorati, trialometani, trielina e tetracloroetilene.

This study investigated the exposure to organohalogens compounds in drinking water from 9 Italian towns (Udine, Genova, Parma, Modena, Siena, Roma, L'Aquila, Napoli and Catania). Overall, 1199 samples collected from 72 waterworks were analyzed. THMs, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene were evaluated using the head-space gas chromatographic technique (detection limit of 0.01 microg/l; chlorite and chlorate analysis was performed by ion chromatography (detection limit of 20 microg/l). THMs were evidenced in 925 samples (77%) (median value: 1.12 micro/l; range: 0.01-54 mciro/l) and 7 were higher than the THMs Italian limit of 30 microg/l. Chlorite and chlorate levels were higher than the detection limit in 45% for chlorite and in 34% for chlorate samples; median values were 221 microg/l and 76 microg/l, respectively. Chlorite values were higher than the chlorite Italian limit (700 microg/l) in 35 samples (8.7%). Trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene were measured in 29% and 44% of the investigated samples and showed values lower than the Italian limit (highest levels of 6 microg/l and 9 microg/l, respectively). The low levels detected of THMs, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene have no potentials effects on human health, whereas, the levels of chlorite and chlorates should be further evaluated and their potential effects for the populations using these drinking waters, better understood.

Association between drinking water disinfection and somatic parameters at birth.

We conducted an epidemiological study in Liguria, Italy, on the association between somatic parameters at birth and drinking water disinfection with chlorine dioxide and/or sodium hypochlorite. Over 2 years (1988-1989), 676 births at two public hospitals, one in Genoa (548 cases) and another in Chiavari (128 cases) were examined and data regarding both mother and child were obtained from hospital records. Results indicate a higher frequency of small body length (< or = 49.5 cm) and small cranial circumference (< or = 35 cm) in infants born to mothers who drank water treated with chlorine compounds. In particular, the statistical analysis (by simultaneous variance analysis and Scheffé test) indicated that there may be an association between infants with smaller body length and mothers who drank water treated with chlorine dioxide [adjusted odds radio (OR) = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2-3.3] or sodium hypoclorite (adjusted OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.3-4.2) and between infants with smaller cranial circumference and mothers who drank water treated with chlorine dioxide (adjusted OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.4-3.9) or sodium hypochlorite (adjusted OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 2.1-8.5). The presence of neonatal jaundice is almost twice as likely (adjusted OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1-3.1) in infants whose mothers drank water treated with chlorine dioxide.

[Hygiene problems associated with characteristics of the sludge from purification plants in Liguria]. / Problemi igienici associati alle caratteristiche dei fanghi provenienti dagli impianti di depurazione in Liguria.

Sludge samples from five municipal sewage treatment plants in Liguria (Italy) were examined periodically during a whole year. Four of them are located in Genova and receive the sewage corresponding respectively to 20,000-53,000-125,000 and 285,000 equivalent inhabitants. The last one is in Chiavari and receives the sewage corresponding to 40,000 equivalent inhabitants. All plants included a preliminary screening treatment, primary sedimentation and a secondary activated sludge process. Sludge was thickened by centrifuge. The bacteriological and chemical characteristics of the sludge after centrifuging (detection and estimation of total and fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci and enumeration and isolation of Salmonella, pH, moisture, total and volatile residue, nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy metals) were measured in order to establish the possibility of land disposal. Dry solids contained on average 34 g/kg total nitrogen and 1,4 g/kg phosphorus. Among heavy metals copper and zinc reached high levels: 544 and 1587 mg/kg of dry solids. Other metals were present at lower concentrations (As 6, Cd 2, Cr 70, Hg 2, Ni 53, pb 416 mg/kg). Comparing these results with those of a research carried out contemporarily in another region (Emilia Romagna) it was observed that in Ligury there is a higher content of copper and bacteria (with an average of 69 Salmonella in 1 g of dry solids). The results showed that sludge produced in the five treatment plants in Ligury (Italy) was apt to be used as fertilizer in soil, but that care has to be taken for what concerns microbial contamination. For what regards the differences among the five sewage treatment plants under observation some heavy metals (arsenic and chromium) reached very high average levels (10-14 mg/kg of arsenic and 70-118 mg/kg of chromium) in the sludge of two of them, which treat the sewage from highly industrialized areas. On the contrary lead and cadmium were present at the same levels in all plants (416 mg/kg of lead and 2 mg/kg of cadmium) with the exception of one (Ge-Quinto) where cadmium was practically absent (0,2 mg/kg). The overall average concentrations of heavy metals resulted definitively lower than maximum concentration proposed by CEE (1986) and by some italian region as Lombardia. Some differences among plants for what regards microbiological parameters were noted only for total coliforms.