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Environment, Occupation, and Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis in Pre-Roman Italy
Bianca Casa1, Valentina Giuffra1, Giulia Riccomi1,2
1Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and new Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
American Journal of Biological Anthropology
|May 13, 2025
Summary
Chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) affected over half of individuals in a pre-Roman Italian skeletal sample. Environmental and occupational factors likely contributed to this high prevalence of respiratory disease.
Area of Science:
- Paleopathology
- Osteoarchaeology
- Mediterranean Bioarchaeology
Background:
- Chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) is a significant respiratory condition with potential links to environmental and occupational exposures.
- Understanding the historical prevalence of CMS can provide insights into past human health and environmental conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of chronic maxillary sinusitis (CMS) in a pre-Roman Italian skeletal assemblage.
- To investigate the relationship between CMS and the environmental and sociocultural context of the studied population.
Main Methods:
- Macroscopic and microscopic examination of maxillary sinuses from 131 adult individuals (8th-3rd centuries BCE) from Pontecagnano, Italy.
- Assessment of osseous changes using established diagnostic criteria for CMS.
Main Results:
- CMS was identified in 57.2% of the individuals studied.
- Prevalence was higher in females and increased with age. Bilateral CMS was more common than unilateral.
- No statistically significant differences in CMS prevalence were found across different occupation phases (Etruscan, Samnite, pre-Roman).
Conclusions:
- Occupational activities (metallurgy, agriculture) and environmental factors (volcanic ash, marshy areas) likely contributed to CMS in this population.
- Further systematic analysis of osteoarchaeological assemblages is recommended to understand the impact of environmental and anthropogenic factors on respiratory health through time.
- This study offers a foundation for future research on CMS and respiratory diseases in the Mediterranean, considering climate and human influences.
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