Serum copper, rubidium, selenium, strontium, and zinc and psychophysical health in adults of the Sarno river Basin: PREVES-STOP 2025 community biomonitoring results
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Abstract
Objectives
Evaluate associations between serum copper (Cu), rubidium (Rb), selenium (Se), strontium (Sr), and zinc (Zn) and psychophysical health in adults from Italy’s Sarno River Basin within the 2025 PREVES-STOP program.
Methods
Adults aged 30–65 completed validated questionnaires plus clinical evaluation and blood sampling. Elements were quantified by collision/reaction-cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Associations were evaluated using Spearman and partial Spearman correlations.
Results
Significant associations included Zn and Rb associated with lower odds (odds ratio, OR) of severe fatigue – Recognizing and Estimating Signs of Tiredness (REST): Zn OR=0.38, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.21–0.68, q=0.02; Rb OR=0.33, 95 % CI 0.15–0.71, q=0.03 – while Sr was associated with higher well-being – the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index (WHO-5) OR=1.36, 95 % CI 1.12–1.65, q=0.02.
Conclusions
Findings support broader trace-element panels to inform psychophysical and cardiometabolic risk beyond classical toxic metals, complementing prior PREVES-STOP evidence on lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). Further investigation is warranted.
Funding source: Comune di Pagani; Sinergie in Rete
Acknowledgments
We extend our sincere gratitude to the citizens who took part in this study. Appreciation is also expressed to Fondazione Peppino Scoppa and to Dr Anna Buonocore and Dr Ilaria Gallo of Studio Medico Sant’Alfonso–Pagani for their invaluable contributions, which made this research and its publication possible. Special thanks are due to Ms Annamaria De Felice for her dedicated support, and this work is respectfully dedicated to the memory of her late husband, Gerardo Califano, an exceptional family man. We thank Porpora Lab SAS (Baronissi, Salerno, Italy) for analytical support and performance of the biochemical analyses.
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Research ethics: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee (Protocol CE00225, 2 May 2025). The study was promoted by a local non-profit organization, Associazione O.R.A. ETS (www.oncologiaora.it – Oncologia Ricerca Assistenza).
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Informed consent: This study strictly adhered to GDPR regulations to ensure participant privacy and data confidentiality, including only participants who provided explicit consent for their anonymized data to be used for research.
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Author contributions: Conceptualization: CB Methodology / Study design: CB Investigation & data collection (partecipazione allo studio): LS, RB, CB, FCr, AVe, VR, AF, ER, FeCo, MF Chemical analyses: MI, MT, AM, GDT Formal analysis / Data analysis: CB Supervision: GDL Writing – original draft: CB Writing – review & editing (revisione critica per contenuto intellettuale rilevante): LS, RB, CB, FCr, AVe, AF, VR, SeRi, SaRi, AP, VM, ER, GR, AR, MI, MT, AM, GDT, FlCo, RDT, OS, AVi, LM, PT, FS, FCa, FeCo, GDL Legend (sigle univoche → autore). LS = Luca Scafuri; RB = Raffaele Baio; CB = Carlo Buonerba; FCr = Felice Crocetto; AVe = Antonio Verde; AF = Antonella Ferraioli; VR = Vittorio Riccio; SeRi = Serena Rizzano; SaRi = Sara Rizzano; AP = Armando Pisapia; VM = Vittorino Montanaro; ER = Emily Ronga; GR = Giuseppe Romeo; AR = Antonio Ruffo; MI = Mauro Iuliano; MT = Marco Trifuoggi; AM = Alessandra Marano; GDT = Gaetano De Tommaso; FlCo = Flavia Conte; RDT = Rossella Di Trolio; OS = Oriana Strianese; AVi = Alessia Vitolo; LM = Luigia Maglione; PT = Paola Tarantino; FS = Francesco Stanzione; FCa = Francesca Cappuccio; FeCo = Ferdinando Costabile; GDL = Giuseppe Di Lorenzo.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: English style and grammar were refined using ChatGPT (OpenAI); all changes were verified by the authors.
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Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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Research funding: We would like to acknowledge the “Comune di Pagani” (Protocol AOO.065088\2024) and “Sinergie in Rete” (Public Fundraising Event held on 26 February 2024 in Sarno, Salerno, Italy) for their support.
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Data availability: The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request.
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