The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE (Professors Gabriella Aggazzotti, Guglielmina Fantuzzi, and Drs Elena Righi, Guerrino Predieri – Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Biostatistics) has extensive experience in the area of Disinfection By Products (DBPs) detection in almost all type of water and treatment methods, and epidemiological studies of DBPs. DBPs analyses (mainly THMs, HAAs, chlorite/chlorate and bromate) are currently performed within the laboratory of the Department.

Recently they conducted a multi-centre case control study examining DBP exposure and preterm delivery/Low Birth Weight which was carried out in Italy in 2000, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR PRIN 1998) (Journal of Water and Health, 2/4, 233-247, 2004). More recently, they have set up an agreement with the Department and the local environmental Authority (Agenzia d’ambito per I Servizi Pubblici di Modena – ATO) to measure DBPs other than THMs such as HAAs, chlorite/chlorate and bromate from many waterworks in the province of Modena (Italy) collected at different steps of the treatment plants and at different distance and locations along the water supply in order to build a data-base about the local situation. They will lead the research area on reproductive studies, lead WP 3 and make a contribution to some other WPs.