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Environmental Pollution from Illegal Waste Disposal and Health Effects: A Review on the “Triangle of Death”

Author

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  • Maria Triassi

    (Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy)

  • Rossella Alfano

    (Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy)

  • Maddalena Illario

    (Department of Traslational Medical Science, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy)

  • Antonio Nardone

    (Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy)

  • Oreste Caporale

    (Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy)

  • Paolo Montuori

    (Department of Public Health, "Federico II" University, Naples 80131, Italy)

Abstract

The term “triangle of death” was used for the first time by Senior and Mazza in the journal The Lancet Oncology referring to the eastern area of the Campania Region (Southern Italy) which has one of the worst records of illegal waste dumping practices. In the past decades, many studies have focused on the potential of illegal waste disposal to cause adverse effects on human health in this area. The great heterogeneity in the findings, and the bias in media communication has generated great healthcare doubts, anxieties and alarm. This paper addresses a review of the up-to-date literature on the “triangle of death”, bringing together the available information on the occurrence and severity of health effects related to illegal waste disposal. The Scopus database was searched using the search terms “waste”, “Campania”, “Naples”, “triangle of death” and “human biomonitoring”. Despite the methodological and sampling heterogeneity between the studies, this review examines the evidence from published data concerning cancer incidence, childhood mortality and birth defects, so that the current situation, knowledge gaps and research priorities can be established. The review aims to provide a contribution to the scientific community, and to respond to the concerns of the general population.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Triassi & Rossella Alfano & Maddalena Illario & Antonio Nardone & Oreste Caporale & Paolo Montuori, 2015. "Environmental Pollution from Illegal Waste Disposal and Health Effects: A Review on the “Triangle of Death”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:2:p:1216-1236:d:44999
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gaetano Rivezzi & Prisco Piscitelli & Giampiero Scortichini & Armando Giovannini & Gianfranco Diletti & Giacomo Migliorati & Roberta Ceci & Giulia Rivezzi & Lorenzo Cirasino & Pietro Carideo & Dennis , 2013. "A General Model of Dioxin Contamination in Breast Milk: Results from a Study on 94 Women from the Caserta and Naples Areas in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Amalia Mattiello & Paolo Chiodini & Elvira Bianco & Nunzia Forgione & Incoronata Flammia & Ciro Gallo & Renato Pizzuti & Salvatore Panico, 2013. "Health effects associated with the disposal of solid waste in landfills and incinerators in populations living in surrounding areas: a systematic review," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(5), pages 725-735, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alfredo Mazza & Prisco Piscitelli & Andrea Falco & Maria Lucia Santoro & Manuela Colangelo & Giovanni Imbriani & Adele Idolo & Antonella De Donno & Leopoldo Iannuzzi & Annamaria Colao, 2018. "Heavy Environmental Pressure in Campania and Other Italian Regions: A Short Review of Available Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Nobomi Ngalo & Gladman Thondhlana, 2023. "Illegal Solid-Waste Dumping in a Low-Income Neighbourhood in South Africa: Prevalence and Perceptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(18), pages 1-15, September.
    3. Elżbieta M. Zębek & Jakub J. Zięty, 2022. "Effect of Landfill Arson to a “Lax” System in a Circular Economy under the Current EU Energy Policy: Perspective Review in Waste Management Law," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-25, November.
    4. Maurizio Bifulco, 2015. "Comments on Triassi et al. Environmental Pollution from Illegal Waste Disposal and Health Effects: A Review on the “Triangle of Death”. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12 , 1216–1236," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-2, March.
    5. Alfredo Mazza & Prisco Piscitelli & Cosimo Neglia & Giulia Della Rosa & Leopoldo Iannuzzi, 2015. "Illegal Dumping of Toxic Waste and Its Effect on Human Health in Campania, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Abraham Yeboah & Nana Owusu-Frimpong & Ofosu Agyekum & Vida Owusu-Prempeh, 2023. "Measuring situational factors in theory of attribution to consumer attitudes towards unlawful disposal of solid waste products in Ghana with special reference to Sunyani: a mediation and moderation an," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-21, December.
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    8. Andy C. Y. Chong & Amanda M. Y. Chu & Mike K. P. So & Ray S. W. Chung, 2019. "Asking Sensitive Questions Using the Randomized Response Approach in Public Health Research: An Empirical Study on the Factors of Illegal Waste Disposal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-15, March.
    9. Vivianni Palmeira Wanderley & Fernando Luiz Affonso Fonseca & André Vala Quiaios & José Nuno Domingues & Susana Paixão & João Figueiredo & Ana Ferreira & Cleonice De Almeida Pinto & Odair Ramos Da Sil, 2017. "Socio-Environmental and Hematological Profile of Landfill Residents (São Jorge Landfill–Sao Paulo, Brazil)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, January.
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    11. Gi-Wook Cha & Won-Hwa Hong & Young-Chan Kim, 2023. "Performance Improvement of Machine Learning Model Using Autoencoder to Predict Demolition Waste Generation Rate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    12. Saidia Ali & Farid Shirazi, 2022. "A Transformer-Based Machine Learning Approach for Sustainable E-Waste Management: A Comparative Policy Analysis between the Swiss and Canadian Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-22, October.
    13. Wei Li & Si Chen & Zhihao Wang & Guomin Li & Xiaoguang Liu, 2022. "The Influence of Message Framing on Residents’ Waste Separation Willingness—The Mediating Role of Moral Identity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-18, May.
    14. Miguel Ángel Aguilar-Jurado & Pedro Gil-Madrona & Juan Francisco Ortega-Dato & David Zamorano-García, 2019. "Effects of an Educational Glass Recycling Program against Environmental Pollution in Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-16, December.
    15. Yamkela Jakeni & Thabang Maphanga & Benett Siyabonga Madonsela & Karabo Concelia Malakane, 2024. "Identification of Illegal Dumping and Community Views in Informal Settlements, Cape Town: South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-17, February.
    16. Gi-Wook Cha & Se-Hyu Choi & Won-Hwa Hong & Choon-Wook Park, 2022. "Development of Machine Learning Model for Prediction of Demolition Waste Generation Rate of Buildings in Redevelopment Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.

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