Ecosystem hazard indices

Unical aims to provide an environmental control model to be associated with mining activities, focused on maintaining new balances, restoring the land and improving production activities. 

This will be made possible, in part, through an epidemiological analysis to assess the health impact associated with living in sites with active or disused mining quarries and to formulate a priori aetiological hypotheses for the interpretation of excess mortality/morbidity. 

In addition, field surveys are planned to identify in the three Calabrian sites the main points of interest to be subjected to faunal sampling and to document the presence and health status of the amphibian and reptile species present there; these surveys will be flanked by laboratory monitoring activities on the larval development of amphibian species sampled in situ and eco-toxicological surveys on specific target organs in order to assess any pathogenic effects of pollutants (heavy metals).