Research Article

Levels of Heavy Metals in Adolescents Living in the Industrialised Area of Milazzo-Valle del Mela (Northern Sicily)

Table 7

Quality of life and risk perception questionnaire administered to either parents or adolescents involved in the study. Results are expressed as percentage.

Milazzo-Valle del MelaMontalbano Elicona

Parental questionnaire
How do you consider your social/working life?
 Normal31%69%
 I have some concerns 60%26%
 I have a lot of concerns that limit my social/working life8%5%
 I feel very worried 1%0%
Which is the main source of pollution, in your area?
 Air and water 69%24%
 Food products 21%0%
 Sea products 7%7%
 All of the above3%69%
What do you think about the general environmental conditions of the Milazzo-Valle del Mela area?
 Great conditions, the wind blows away all contaminants0%17%
 Good conditions, however sometimes there is a bad smell7%3%
 I think it is risky only close to the industrial plants5%11%
 The whole area is very polluted88%69%
Do you smoke?
 No, I do not 80%59%
 Less than 10 per day10%7%
 Up to 20 per day9%27%
 More than 20 per day1%7%
Do you buy fruit and vegetables from the local market?
 Yes, I prefer fresh products20%7%
 Yes, however sometimes I go to the grocery stores43%48%
 No, I don’t13%14%
 I grow my own vegetable garden24%31%
How many times a week do you eat fish?
 Once a week47%14%
 Twice a week27%48%
 One-two times a month24%38%
 I do not eat fish2%0%
Do you use tap water for food purposes?
 Yes, I drink it everyday8%72%
 Yes, but only for cooking35%25%
 No, I do not57%3%

Children questionnaire
Do you like the place where you live?
 Yes, a lot25%61%
 Yes, but I would rather stay in a less polluted environment58%7%
 Not much13%29%
 No, at all4%3%
Do you think of living in a polluted area?
 Yes, my parents always complain about it 54%7%
 Yes, because I live downtown and there are a lot of vehicles 27%18%
 No, I live in outside of the town19%75%
What is the main source of pollution in your opinion?
 Industrial plants91%62%
 Urban pollution from vehicles6%21%
 I do not know 3%17%
How is your house?
 It is outside of the town with a back yard 39%50%
 It is a condominium outside of the town25%39%
 It is a condominium in downtown36%11%
How many hours a day do you spend playing outside?
 I never play outside12%6%
 Maximum 1 hour, I rather prefer to watch TV9%2%
 I spend most of my day outside only during spring/summer61%70%
 I spend most of my afternoons outside in the garden18%22%
Do you have a vegetable garden?
 Yes, at home or at my grandparent’s67%29%
 No, but our neighbours have and sometimes give us some fresh vegetables7%57%
 No, we buy only from the grocery store26%14%
How many times a week do you eat fish?
 I do not like fish8%21%
 One-two times a month19%31%
 Twice a week33%34%
 Once a week40%14%
Do your parents let you drink tap water?
 Yes, I drink it everyday3%70%
 No, we use it only for cooking65%28%
 No, never32%2%
Do you smoke?
 No, I do not 100%100%
 Less than 10 per day0%0%
 Up to 20 per day0%0%
 More than 20 per day0%0%