A recent paper was published on Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health addressing the
so-called “Triangle of Death” linked to waste crisis in the Southern Italy [1]. Three
decades of illegal waste management including uncontrolled disposal of toxic and industrial
material, land filling and unauthorized incineration have transformed these Italian
areas, into the poisoned dustbin of the country, the “Triangle of Death” also called
“Land of Fires” [2,3], characterized by the presence of a widespread organized crime,
a huge social and economic disintegration, a high population density with large migration
flows. This phenomenon arose a dangerous and uncontrollable alarmism in the population
with unpredictable socio-economic damages. In my opinion, despite preliminary scientific
studies suggest a link between hazardous exposure from toxic wastes and cancer occurrence
[4], to definitively clarify this point further extensive and analytical studies are
required. In particular, an accurate mapping and characterization of all the potentially
contaminated sites and groundwaters, as well as agricultural lands subjected to illegal
spills, need to be urgently developed, together with a more detailed epidemiological
investigation aimed to explore the impact of illegal pollutants on environmental matrices
(soil, water, air), on the food chain and, especially, on human health. The improvement
of scientific knowledge and its translational relevance on environment and health
concerns represents, indeed, the unique valuable tool to understand the critical elements
of contaminated areas, to give evidence for a public claim and, as a consequence,
to implement preventive measures and precautions in the Land of Fires. Moreover, analytical
methods based on exposomic approach, as well as human biomonitoring programs and molecular
genomic instruments, allow a broad and dynamic view of individual environmental exposure
to complex mixtures of contaminants during the whole life cycle, the so-called enviroma,
which unquestionably contributes, together with genetic factors, to the environment-related
disease pathogenesis. According to the experimental procedure, in order to deepen
the potential association between environment and common diseases in contaminated
areas, the detection of personal exposure, obtained through filling out questionnaires
about individual habits and the use of the latest generation equipment (sensors connected
devices of exposure, remote sensing instruments, and smartphones) is associated with
the comparative assessment of selected biomarkers, like individual gene-expression,
protein, and metabolic profile time variation. For this reason, the Land of Fires
could constitute an ideal open-air laboratory for a promising exposomic research,
in order to characterize pollution types and sources and to elaborate measures to
eliminate or reduce associated health risks [4]. The approval of prevention interventions,
according to an established European model, should pass through a rigorous Health
Impact Assessment (HIA), based on scientific evidence and on integration of several
technical expertise, achieving maximum health benefits, and minimizing adverse effects.
This is an ambitious project proposal, which certainly requires massive public and
private funding. Furthermore, an adequate information system could directly support
and encourage public participation and institutional activities in the environmental
surveillance and monitoring in order to guide with success, on the basis of the precautionary
principle, the rapid implementations of preventive measures allowing to make decisive
actions for the Campania emergency.