Epidemiol Prev
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The study area includes the Municipalities of Gela, Niscemi and Butera located in the South of Sicily, Italy. In 1990 it was declared Area at High Risk of Environmental Crisis. In 2000 part of it was designated as Gela Reclamation Site of National Interest, RSNI. ⋯ This experience will reach its climax when the community-exposure data feedback will be provided, because it will mark the consolidation of present knowledge and its possible processing into public health action plans. The present publication can represent an important tool and a model for all interest-bearers to assess environmental pollution impacts on human health in contaminated areas. A local system to assess the relation between environmental pollution and population health is therefore urgently needed to provide risk managers with ad-hoc tools to improve environmental protection and prevent further risks for local communities.
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To describe methanol poisoning exposures in Italy and to investigate a cluster of methanol-related deaths due to abuse occurred in Sicily among immigrants from East Europe. ⋯ The availability in Sicily of products containing high concentrations of methanol, improperly packaged and labelled, determined a generalised risk of accidental exposures and favoured voluptuary assumption of methanol among selected groups. The observations highlight the importance of a surveillance system of toxic exposures based on the information collected by the Poison Control Centres and its ability to provide timely identification of unexpected and dangerous events and to support preventive actions.