Health impact assessment of pollution from incinerator in Modugno (Bari)

The purpose of this study is to assess the potential health impact at start-up of a new incinerator on the general population living near the facility. An algorithm was applied in order to calculate the number of deaths and hospital admissions associated with a given concentration of PM10, exposed population, specific mortality/morbidity rates. For every health end-points, an estimate of RR was obtained from literature. Using PM10 as a tracer, simulations were made of incinerator emissions fallout. Residents within 2-km radius from the plant were considered. The reduction of average concentration of PM10 to 40 μg/m3 could prevent 0.12% of natural causes of death. Proportionally, the increment in PM10 concentration of 1 mg/m3 could be associated to 0.02% of deaths. The estimated exposure to estimated incinerator emissions should not lead to additional health risks for the neighbouring population.