Epidemiological surveillance in a district with soil and groundwater industrial waste contamination

The Ferrara case-study: characteristics and objectives in brief Characteristics - The residents explicitly asked for an epidemiological study to be carried out, even though there were intrinsically large uncertainties. - The study was retrospective but also could be used for epidemiological perspective surveillance. - Part of the study population belonged to a high-risk group/susceptible population (schoolchildren). - In developing the study, great emphasis was laid on communicating with the population. - The population was informed that the study protocol could be changed if other risks were identified. Objectives - To evaluate the residential history of the Eastern Quadrant. - To define the information base for eventual epidemiological surveillance. - To verify a priori the association between residence, outcome and cause on the basis of evidence of site contamination. - To include, in the communication process and plans for risk management, specific information on the health status of residents. - To establish an information database that could allow for an association between buildings, homes and residents that could be used to define targets for action. - To check the validity of the residents profile obtained by the data in the registry (comparing permanent residents to temporary inhabitants).