IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i22p14761-d968370.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Psychological Impact of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution in the Veneto Region, Italy: A Qualitative Study with Parents

Author

Listed:
  • Marialuisa Menegatto

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Sara Lezzi

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Michele Musolino

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Adriano Zamperini

    (FISPPA Department, University of Padova, Via Venezia 14, 35131 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

Little is known about the psychosocial impact on people who live in polluted areas, and its consequences for the parental role have been neglected. This study addresses this gap, proposing qualitative research referring to the case of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) water pollution in the Veneto Region of Italy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chronic exposure contamination (CEC) experience of parents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 parents living in the so-called ‘Red Area’ considered to have had maximum exposure. Grounded theory was used to analyse the data. The three themes to emerge were three phases of a dynamic process: shock around the discovery (phase 1), lifestyle change (phase 2), and living with PFAS (phase 3). The two transitions (loss of innocence and environmental adaptation) linked the phases. Our findings show that PFAS CEC experience is a process whereby parents need to move from the shock of discovery to adapting to the new situation in order to incorporate a change into their daily life, especially in regard to children. Two emerging aspects that characterised the process as a constant were uncertainty and health concerns, while role strains could be a stress source in the context of CEC. We suggest introducing the notion of chronic role strain (CRS).

Suggested Citation

  • Marialuisa Menegatto & Sara Lezzi & Michele Musolino & Adriano Zamperini, 2022. "The Psychological Impact of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution in the Veneto Region, Italy: A Qualitative Study with Parents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:14761-:d:968370
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/22/14761/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/22/14761/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marco Bonato & Francesca Corrà & Marta Bellio & Laura Guidolin & Laura Tallandini & Paola Irato & Gianfranco Santovito, 2020. "PFAS Environmental Pollution and Antioxidant Responses: An Overview of the Impact on Human Field," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-45, October.
    2. Couch, S.R. & Coles, C.J., 2011. "Community stress, Psychosocial hazards, and EPA decision-making in communities impacted by chronic technological disasters," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(SUPPL. 1), pages 140-148.
    3. Eric E. Calloway & Alethea L. Chiappone & Harrison J. Schmitt & Daniel Sullivan & Ben Gerhardstein & Pamela G. Tucker & Jamie Rayman & Amy L. Yaroch, 2020. "Exploring Community Psychosocial Stress Related to Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Contamination: Lessons Learned from a Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Kristen M. Rappazzo & Evan Coffman & Erin P. Hines, 2017. "Exposure to Perfluorinated Alkyl Substances and Health Outcomes in Children: A Systematic Review of the Epidemiologic Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-22, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Marialuisa Menegatto & Adriano Zamperini, 2023. "Health and Psychological Concerns of Communities Affected by Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances: The Case of Residents Living in the Orange Area of the Veneto Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-20, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sullivan, Daniel & Schmitt, Harrison J. & Calloway, Eric E. & Clausen, Whitney & Tucker, Pamela & Rayman, Jamie & Gerhardstein, Ben, 2021. "Chronic environmental contamination: A narrative review of psychosocial health consequences, risk factors, and pathways to community resilience," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    2. Marialuisa Menegatto & Adriano Zamperini, 2023. "Health and Psychological Concerns of Communities Affected by Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances: The Case of Residents Living in the Orange Area of the Veneto Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(22), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Eerika Finell & Jouko Nätti, 2019. "The Combined Effect of Poor Perceived Indoor Environmental Quality and Psychosocial Stressors on Long-Term Sickness Absence in the Workplace: A Follow-Up Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Yanping Cai & Haiyan Chen & Huilun Chen & Haiqing Li & Shuo Yang & Fei Wang, 2019. "Evaluation of Single and Joint Toxicity of Perfluorinated Carboxylic Acids and Copper to Metal-Resistant Arthrobacter Strains," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, January.
    5. Tiina Mattila & Tiina Santonen & Helle Raun Andersen & Andromachi Katsonouri & Tamás Szigeti & Maria Uhl & Wojciech Wąsowicz & Rosa Lange & Beatrice Bocca & Flavia Ruggieri & Marike Kolossa-Gehring & , 2021. "Scoping Review—The Association between Asthma and Environmental Chemicals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-13, February.
    6. Eric E. Calloway & Alethea L. Chiappone & Harrison J. Schmitt & Daniel Sullivan & Ben Gerhardstein & Pamela G. Tucker & Jamie Rayman & Amy L. Yaroch, 2020. "Exploring Community Psychosocial Stress Related to Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Contamination: Lessons Learned from a Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-19, November.
    7. Blake Langenbach & Mark Wilson, 2021. "Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Significance and Considerations within the Regulatory Framework of the USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Jenkins, August I.C. & Surachman, Agus & Armendariz, Marina, 2024. "Where I'm Livin’ and How I'm Feelin’: Associations among community stress, gender, and mental-emotional health among Black Americans," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    9. Hussein F. Hassan & Haneen Bou Ghanem & Joelle Abi Kharma & Mohamad G. Abiad & Jomana Elaridi & Maya Bassil, 2023. "Perfluorooctanoic Acid and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate in Human Milk: First Survey from Lebanon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, January.
    10. Chris M. Messer & Alison E. Adams & Thomas E. Shriver, 2019. "Living with chronic contamination: a comparative analysis of divergent psychosocial impacts," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 99(2), pages 895-911, November.
    11. Elsi Haverinen & Mariana F. Fernandez & Vicente Mustieles & Hanna Tolonen, 2021. "Metabolic Syndrome and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: An Overview of Exposure and Health Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-19, December.
    12. Frances M. Nilsen & Jazmin D.C. Ruiz & Nicolle S. Tulve, 2020. "A Meta-Analysis of Stressors from the Total Environment Associated with Children’s General Cognitive Ability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-35, July.
    13. Samuel Stroope & Tim Slack & Rhiannon A. Kroeger & Kathryn Sweet Keating & Jaishree Beedasy & Jonathan J. Sury & Jeremy Brooks & Thomas Chandler, 2022. "Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Exposure, Industry Sector, and Child Health," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(1), pages 229-249, February.
    14. Charlotte Stübner & Christel Nielsen & Kristina Jakobsson & Christopher Gillberg & Carmela Miniscalco, 2023. "Early-Life Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Child Language and Communication Development: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(24), pages 1-20, December.
    15. Siti Suhana Abdullah Soheimi & Amirah Abdul Rahman & Normala Abd Latip & Effendi Ibrahim & Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul Kadir, 2021. "Understanding the Impact of Perfluorinated Compounds on Cardiovascular Diseases and Their Risk Factors: A Meta-Analysis Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-22, August.
    16. Huilun Chen & Qianyu Wang & Yanping Cai & Rongfang Yuan & Fei Wang & Beihai Zhou, 2020. "Investigation of the Interaction Mechanism of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids with Human Serum Albumin by Spectroscopic Methods," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-12, February.
    17. Ruijin Lu & Boya Zhang & Anna Birukov & Cuilin Zhang & Zhen Chen, 2024. "A Variance-Based Sensitivity Analysis Approach for Identifying Interactive Exposures," Statistics in Biosciences, Springer;International Chinese Statistical Association, vol. 16(2), pages 520-541, July.
    18. Nicole Marie Brennan & Abigail Teresa Evans & Meredith Kate Fritz & Stephanie Allison Peak & Haley Elizabeth von Holst, 2021. "Trends in the Regulation of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-28, October.
    19. Laura Franza & Rossella Cianci, 2021. "Pollution, Inflammation, and Vaccines: A Complex Crosstalk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-16, June.
    20. Qi Meng & Kosuke Inoue & Beate Ritz & Jørn Olsen & Zeyan Liew, 2018. "Prenatal Exposure to Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Birth Outcomes; An Updated Analysis from the Danish National Birth Cohort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:22:p:14761-:d:968370. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.