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Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution

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Human Exposure to Metals and Potential Human Health Risk in a Volcanic Environment in Italy.

Giovanni Forte¹, Venerando Rapisarda², Flavia Ruggieri¹

¹Department of Environment and Health, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy.

|December 24, 2025

Summary

Residents near Mt. Etna show higher internal doses of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and thallium (Tl). However, these trace element levels remain within safe health limits, indicating no significant health risk from volcanic emissions.

Keywords:

health risk assessment reference values toxic metals urine volcano

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Area of Science:

Environmental Health
Toxicology
Geochemistry

Background:

Mt. Etna, Europe's most active volcano, continuously releases ash and gases.
Volcanic emissions contain numerous trace elements with potential health implications.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess chronic exposure to volcanic emissions from Mt. Etna.
To determine internal doses of trace elements in residents of Catania, Sicily.
To compare trace element levels between residents near Mt. Etna and those in control areas.

Main Methods:

Urine samples collected from 167 residents in Catania and 193 from control areas.
Analysis of urinary concentrations of 23 trace elements (As, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Tl, U, V, W, Zn).
Statistical comparison between exposed and control groups.

Main Results:

Significantly higher urinary concentrations of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and thallium (Tl) found in the Catania group.
Trace element levels were comparable to European reference values and below health-based guidance values.
Other elements were influenced by lifestyle and dietary factors, not volcanic activity.

Conclusions:

Volcanic activity of Mt. Etna is a source of increased internal exposure to specific trace elements for local residents.
Observed increases in trace elements are unlikely to pose a significant health risk.
Further research may explore the influence of lifestyle on trace element levels.