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Volume 13
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Article

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

by
Giovanni Forte
1,†,
Venerando Rapisarda
2,†,
Flavia Ruggieri
1,
Beatrice Battistini
1,
Lisa Bauleo
1,
Veronica Filetti
2,
Elena Grignani
3,
Piero Lovreglio
4,
Serena Matera
2,
Paola Senia
2,
Francesca Vella
5,
Ermanno Vitale
5,
Beatrice Bocca
1,*,‡ and
Ivo Iavicoli
6,7,‡
1
Department of Environment and Health, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
2
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
3
Environmental Research Center, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
4
Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
5
Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Enna “Kore”, 94100 Enna, Italy
6
Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
7
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
‡
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Toxics 2025, 13(12), 1080; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13121080
Submission received: 13 November 2025 / Revised: 9 December 2025 / Accepted: 11 December 2025 / Published: 15 December 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Exposome Analysis and Risk Assessment)
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Abstract

Mt. Etna is the highest and most active stratovolcano in Europe, located in Catania (Sicily, Italy). Its persistent degassing, frequent explosions, and lava flows release large amounts of ash and gases into the atmosphere. This study aimed to assess whether chronic exposure to local volcanic emissions leads to an increased internal dose of 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) in Catania adult residents. To this end, urine samples were collected from 167 individuals residing in Catania and compared with 193 residents of other Sicilian areas located farther from the volcano. Results revealed significantly higher urinary concentrations of As, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Tl in the exposed group, suggesting volcanic activity as a relevant source of exposure. The levels of the other elements were instead affected by other factors such as lifestyle habits and the consumption of specific foods and beverages. The urinary concentrations of trace elements were consistent with reference values reported in other European studies, and the levels remained well within the health-based guidance values. There is evidence of an increased internal dose of a few elements in the Sicilian population exposed to volcano activity, but the observed increases are unlikely to pose a significant health risk.
Keywords: volcano; toxic metals; urine; reference values; health risk assessment volcano; toxic metals; urine; reference values; health risk assessment
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MDPI and ACS Style

Forte, G.; Rapisarda, V.; Ruggieri, F.; Battistini, B.; Bauleo, L.; Filetti, V.; Grignani, E.; Lovreglio, P.; Matera, S.; Senia, P.; et al. Human Exposure to Metals and Potential Human Health Risk in a Volcanic Environment in Italy. Toxics 2025, 13, 1080. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13121080

AMA Style

Forte G, Rapisarda V, Ruggieri F, Battistini B, Bauleo L, Filetti V, Grignani E, Lovreglio P, Matera S, Senia P, et al. Human Exposure to Metals and Potential Human Health Risk in a Volcanic Environment in Italy. Toxics. 2025; 13(12):1080. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13121080

Chicago/Turabian Style

Forte, Giovanni, Venerando Rapisarda, Flavia Ruggieri, Beatrice Battistini, Lisa Bauleo, Veronica Filetti, Elena Grignani, Piero Lovreglio, Serena Matera, Paola Senia, and et al. 2025. "Human Exposure to Metals and Potential Human Health Risk in a Volcanic Environment in Italy" Toxics 13, no. 12: 1080. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13121080

APA Style

Forte, G., Rapisarda, V., Ruggieri, F., Battistini, B., Bauleo, L., Filetti, V., Grignani, E., Lovreglio, P., Matera, S., Senia, P., Vella, F., Vitale, E., Bocca, B., & Iavicoli, I. (2025). Human Exposure to Metals and Potential Human Health Risk in a Volcanic Environment in Italy. Toxics, 13(12), 1080. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13121080

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