Area Vasta of Giugliano, ISS: Organic Volatile Compounds Not Found in Farming Products

The National Health Institute has carried out a survey to observe the occurrence of Organic Volatile Compounds (OVCs) in fruit and vegetables from the farming area of the Area Vasta of Giugliano. The surveys carried out by Arpac (Regional Agency for Environmental Protection of Campania) in the wells water located in the Area Vasta of Giugliano during the period 2011-2012 highlighted the occurrence of Organic Volatile Substances with values higher than limits.

The Government Commissioner for remediation activities in Giugliano asked for the cooperation of National Health Institute for a study to assess the occurrence of VOCs in samples of fruit produced in the neighbouring areas of those wells where high concentration of these substances had been found. Two monitoring campaigns have been carried out. A total of 30 samples have been collected as for fruit and vegetables, along with 5 strawberry samples. The sample quantity has never been lower than 1,5/2 Kg. On the grounds of the available data, the occurrence of VOCs does not affect fruit and vegetables matrices grown in the concerned areas. Thus, it is believed that, as for VOCs there is no direct contamination from water to plants, and, therefore, to its edible part.