Director: Dr. Marco Martuzzi
phone: (+39) 06 4990 3340
mail: marco.martucci@iss.it
Department activities
The Environment and Health Department conducts research and experimentation for the identification, characterization and analysis of the effects of environmental and social risk factors using a multidisciplinary approach that includes environmental monitoring studies, biomonitoring of human populations, effects on ecosystems, analysis of mechanisms and epidemiological investigations.
The objectives are the identification of adequate primary prevention strategies to avoid and reduce the risk of diseases due to environmental factors; the transfer of scientific evidence into public health programs and policies; and evaluate and characterize the health risks deriving from environmental exposures. World Health Organization (WHO) estimates show that 1 in 4 deaths in the world are attributable to environmental factors that contribute to a wide spectrum of diseases and infirmities. The Department of Environment and Health aims to reduce environmental risk factors, possibly preventing almost a quarter of the global burden of diseases.
The activity of the Environment and Health Department is focused on multidisciplinary research which includes the identification and characterization of environmental and social risk factors, the study of their effects on health, and risk assessment.
Department organization
The Environment and Health Department is organized in the following departments Units:
Exposure to air, soil and lifestyle contaminants (ECASS)
Director: Dr. Maria Rosaria Milana
Water quality and health (QAS)
Director: Dr. Luca Lucentini
Ecosystems and health (ES)
Director: Dr. Laura Mancini
Human exposure to environmental contaminants (EUCA)
Director: Dr. Elena De Felip
Mechanisms, biomarkers and models (MBM)
Director: Dott. Riccardo Crebelli
Environmental and social epidemiology (EAS)
Director: Dr. Ivano Iavarone
In addition, the following international and national reference centers / laboratories report to the Department:
- WHO Collaborating Center for Environmental Health in Contaminated Sites
- National reference laboratory for materials in contact with food
- National reference laboratory for pesticide residues
The main thematic areas of research of the Department are in line with the WHO priority objectives in the environment and health sector (Ostrava, 2017).
Institutional Research
Pre and post-regulatory activities upon request of central and territorial, national and international institutions in the field of risk assessment for the ecosystem and human health associated with exposure to environmental contaminants.
Technical-scientific support in response to high-impact environmental and health emergencies for public health. The Department operates according to a Quality Management System in accordance with UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17025 accredited by ACCREDIA relating to chemical, ecological and ecotoxicological tests in four areas of the Department, both in the field of fixed and flexible accreditation.
