CONTRIBUTION OF THE BBCD DEPARTMENT TO THE NATIONAL SURVEY ON ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION IN THE PISQ AREA (OG) ON BEHALF OF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE OF LANUSEI.
P.I.S.Q. (Poligono Interforze Salto di Quirra) area has been interested by war experimentation since later 50s. Beginning from earlier 90s, in the surrounding area (Escalaplano) a suspicious high number of teratogenic events has been detected. Escalaplano is a small town of about 2000 people where 8 teratogenic cases in one year have been detected in humans. Moreover, a high number of leukemias and tumours have been observed in residents living in PISQ area (sheperds still working in some areas located in Salto di Quirra). This epidemiological picture induced the State Prosecutor, Dr. Domenico Fiordalisi, to set up an investigation in order to determine the correlation between environmental pollution due to military activities and epidemiological results.
So, a scientific commission has been set by the State Prosecutor in order to collect enough evidences to develop possible counts towards military authorities. Prof. Mauro Cristaldi has been designated as scientific coordinator of the commission on environmental toxic effects.Dr. D. Fiordalisi
In order to collect data for this investigation, our research group has gone to Sardinia 4 times during 2011 both in exposed areas (Poligono a mare e Poligono di terra) and control areas (Marina di Gairo, Perda Pera and Cardedu). Small mammals (terrestrial Rodents and Bats), wild lizards and lichens have been chosen as bioindicators of environmental damage.
Micronucleus test, CREST and spermatic anomalies have been applied on small mammals as mutagenesis tests.
Aneugenic and clastogenic damages can be detected by micronucleus test, while origin of damage causing micronucleus formation is detected by CREST analysis. Potential damages on germinal line are found by spermatic anomalies test.
Experimental tests have been applied on twenty-nine Mus musculus domesticus and one Apodemus sylvaticus.
Chromosomal (2n=50) and genetic (DNA sequencing) analyses have been carried out on a Garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus sardus). Particular emphasis has been put on these analyses to verify if E. q. sardus could be an endemic species or subspecies. In this case particular attention should be requested to protect it.
Barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets have been collected in some sites located near PISQ area in order to analyze the microteriocoenoses structure and to compare it with experimental data concerning samples collected ten years ago.
Finally, nanoparticles of toxic elements will be analyzed by means of microanalysis (SEM and EDS detector device) on some tissues and organs of malformed lamb born in a sheep farming located inside PISQ area (Quirra-S. Lorenzo loc. and Perda Maiori loc.).
Final recommendation concerns analyses of toxic substances, like Cadmium, in different foods (i.e. meat, cheese and milk) coming from livestocks located in Sardinia farms where evidences of toxic elements higher than law limits have been found in soil and biotic matrices.