The Psychology Festival returns to Friuli Venezia Giulia: the fifth edition of the event, organized by Psicoattività APS with the partnership of the University of Trieste, will take place from March 7 to April 11, 2025. The festival will feature a traveling program, with six free-entry meetings across the region.

The 2025 edition, titled “Intelligences. From Natural Intelligence to Artificial Intelligence”, will explore, through expert presentations, new research and application areas in psychology that are central to current reflections, particularly those related to the study of the human mind and intelligence.

Topics will include natural intelligence and artificial intelligence; creative thinking and the relationship between creativity and science, and between music and AI; the latest developments in robotics and the ethical implications of its use; as well as an in-depth look at modern artificial intelligence tools, including the widely used Chat-GPT, to better understand their risks and opportunities. The festival will also conclude with a look at animal intelligence.

This year, the festival's scientific direction is entrusted to Claudio Tonzar, Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the University of Urbino and President of Psicoattività, with the support of Tiziano Agostini, Professor of General Psychology at the University of Trieste.

The festival's traveling format is confirmed, with stops in Gradisca d’Isonzo, Tavagnacco, Palmanova, Cormons, and, in particular, the UniTS campuses in Trieste and Gorizia.

Notable international guests will participate, including Dario Floreano, full professor and director of the Intelligent Systems Laboratory at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, Switzerland), a pioneer in evolutionary robotics, aerial robotics, and soft robotics, who will speak on Friday, March 28, at the Aula Magna (Building A) of the University of Trieste.

At the end of this event, the ceremony for the Third Prize for Innovative Research in Psychology will take place, awarded by Psicoattività APS to psychologists and researchers under 36. The competition aims to reward published research, master's theses, or doctoral dissertations to promote the psychological culture in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

Credits will be awarded to students of the University of Trieste's Psychology Degree Program attending the events (further details on the festival website).

SCHEDULE

Friday, March 7, 6:00 PM, Gradisca d’Isonzo, Sala Bergamas (via Bergamas, 3) – “Teaching to Think: Is Artificial Intelligence an Enemy or an Ally?” with Alessandro Antonietti, Professor of General Psychology and Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Milan).

Friday, March 14, 6:00 PM, Gorizia, Aula Magna of the Department of Political and Social Sciences (via d’Alviano, 18) – “Creativity and Science: A Brief Journey into the Study of Creative Thinking” with Sergio Agnoli, Associate Professor of General Psychology and Director of the Creativity Dynamics Laboratory at the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste.

Friday, March 21, 6:00 PM, Tavagnacco, Teatro Immersivo “P. Maurensig” (Via Mazzini 1, loc. Feletto Umberto) – “Music and Artificial Intelligence: New Tools for Tomorrow’s Music” with Walter Coppola, Psychologist and Lecturer at the University of Trieste, in collaboration with Davide Coppola, Composer, Conductor, Pianist.

Friday, March 28, 6:00 PM, Trieste, Aula Magna, University of Trieste (Building A, Rectorate - Piazza Europa Unita, 1) – “Intelligences: The Role of Psychology in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Ethics” with Dario Floreano, Full Professor and Director of the Intelligent Systems Laboratory, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (Switzerland); and Giuseppe Riva, Full Professor of Communication Psychology at the Università Cattolica di Milano and Director of the Humane Technology Lab.

Following at 7:30 PM: Ceremony for the Third Prize for Innovative Research in Psychology and presentation of the winning research.

Friday, April 4, 6:00 PM, Palmanova, Teatro Gustavo Modena (via Dante, 16) – “Human Cognitive Abilities and Generative Artificial Intelligence: Limits and Opportunities” with Giuseppe Sartori, Emeritus Professor of Forensic Neuropsychology and Forensic Neurosciences at the University of Padua.

Friday, April 11, 6:00 PM, Cormons, Teatro Comunale (via Nazario Sauro, 17) – “Animal Intelligences: Genius and Ingenuity in the Natural World” with Cinzia Chiandetti, Associate Professor of Psychobiology and Physiological Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste.

The festival is supported by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region and made possible thanks to the collaboration of the municipalities of Gorizia, Cormons, Gradisca d’Isonzo, Palmanova, and Tavagnacco, with the partnership of the University of Trieste and the SASS of Nova Gorica.

The collaboration between the University of Trieste and Somali National University (SNU) has been renewed, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing the two academic institutions to continue developing collaborative projects until 2031.

Those who signed the agreement were Prof. Valter Sergo, Vice Rector of UniTS, and Prof. Hassan Osman Ga'al, Rector of the University of Mogadishu. 

The two universities have been involved in a large bilateral Italy-Somalia project for several years, which aims to support the growth of the Somali National University, contributing to the training of teachers and researchers. 

As part of this project, Prof. Ga'al himself, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the Somali university, was a visiting professor at the University of Trieste. Subsequently, a number of students from Mogadishu attended a Master's degree course at the Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics at UniTS. 

Of those students, two are now researchers at the Somali National University and are actively collaborating on research and consolidating collaboration relations. 

The recently signed MoU intends to foster cultural, scientific and educational cooperation for the benefit of the students, teaching and research staff and technical and administrative staff of both universities. The areas in which the agreement will be implemented focus in particular on the development and sharing of good practices, which take into account the historical cultural ties between Somalia and Italy. 

Collaboration with Italian universities is, in fact, particularly valuable for Mogadishu, which is aiming to further develop its legal-administrative apparatus and education sector.

Still today in Somalia, administration, law, school and university are greatly influenced by Italy. In fact, they have absorbed procedures, organisational processes and sectoral terminology from Italy in the Italian language.

Within the Memorandum of Understanding, the collaboration between UniTS and SNU will involve the disciplinary areas of Italian language and literature, the comparison of legal, political and regulatory systems, economics and the environment, in particular with regard to sustainable growth models. The areas of international relations and development cooperation will also be involved, as well as institutional cooperation, without neglecting the consolidation of basic scientific disciplines, such as physics.

The signing of the MoU was preceded on Friday 28th February by a well-attended public event, the panel discussion ‘Quo Vadis Somalia?’. During the meeting, Rector Hassan Osman Ga'al discussed the future of Somalia and relations with Italy together with Professors Ilaria Micheli (IUSLIT), Federico Battera (DiSPeS), Giuseppe Borruso (DEAMS) and Federico Donelli (DiSPeS) and with moderation from PhD students Sara Cosatti and Beatrice Marchesini. 

Within the framework of international cooperation activities with Somalia, the project ‘Climate Change, Conflicts and Migration: the Ethiopian-Somali Corridor and the Possible Impacts of Infrastructural Development’, has also started, coordinated by Prof. Federico Donelli, Professor of International Relations at the Department of Political and Social Sciences. The project was co-funded by the University with an amount of €15,000, under the Call for International Cooperation Projects of the Departments - Year 2025.

Among the project's objectives is develop a way of monitoring the political-institutional situation in the Somali Peninsula, capable of providing recommendations to Italian and European NGOs active in fostering macroeconomic stability, increasing civil society's capacity to promote sustainable socio-economic behaviour, and developing the Italian public's awareness of the impact of climate change on the phenomenon of migration flows.

The Italian Medicines Agency - AIFA has given the green light for the world's first clinical trial of the drug Mirtazapine in Rett Syndrome,  MirtaRett, after receiving approval from the national ethics committee for paediatric studies. 

The trial is coordinated by the University of Trieste and will be conducted in the main Italian referral hospitals for patients suffering from Rett Syndrome. It is entirely supported by non-profit grants, particularly the non-profit project ‘Angelini for future ’ from Angelini Pharma SpA, together with the Canali Onlus, Ico Falck Onlus and Amadei and Setti Onlus Foundations. The trial will be managed by the consortium for biological and pharmacological evaluations (Consorzio per Valutazioni Biologiche e Farmacologiche, CVBF), a non-profit organisation providing services for clinical research in Italy. 

The actual start of the trial will take about two months, during which UniTS, the coordinating centre, and the four clinical centres in Milan, Genoa, Siena and Messina, will set up the organisational machinery for the recruitment and treatment of the patients. The patients are exclusively female, as Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects 1 in 10,000 girls and is the second most common cause of intellectual disability in females worldwide (Petriti et al. Systematic Reviews (2023) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-023-02169).

The trial will involve a total of 54 patients aged between 5 and 40 years. They will be divided into three groups of 18 with varying age brackets (5-10, 11-17 and 18-40 years).

Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by unpredictable mutations of the MECP2 gene in the reproductive cells (spermatozoa or oocytes) of completely healthy parents. Symptoms appear in the second year of life when girls begin to speak and walk, displaying rapid regression of speech and the inability to make voluntary hand movements. In later years, girls develop epileptic seizures and respiratory difficulties, which are the main cause of death. Many patients reach adulthood, albeit with severe physical and cognitive disabilities. 

Restoration experiments on the mutated gene conducted in animal subjects have demonstrated that the disorder can be completely reversed, but to date there is still no definitive cure. 

The project started in 2009, thanks to funding from Telethon, Fondazione San Paolo, Fondazione Casali, Beneficentia Stiftung and the parent associations AIRETT Onlus and ProRett Ricerca Onlus. Across15 years of study carried out in the laboratory directed by Prof. Enrico Tongiorgi at the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Trieste, abundant experimental evidence of Mirtazapine's efficacy in the recovery of certain symptoms has been collected. Further evidence in favour of the drug was then gathered through a retrospective investigation in collaboration with the Rett Reference Centre at Le Scotte Hospital in Siena, where the drug was administered as standard treatment for anxiety, repetitive behaviour and sleep disorders for a period of 1 to 5 years in 40 adult Rett patients. In addition to the beneficial effects the drug had on anxiety and sleep, the study also revealed it as being beneficial to slowing the progression of Rett syndrome, demonstrating improvements in some typical symptoms such as self-harm, irritability, motor difficulties and loss of communication skills. 

‘At the moment, no one has been able to test the effects of this drug in girls suffering from Rett syndrome yet,’ said Prof. Tongiorgi, ‘We therefore believe it is necessary to proceed with a rigorous clinical trial like the one proposed in the MirtaRett project. We have set ourselves the goal of keeping this project entirely in Italy, involving the main referral clinical centres. The trial will test the efficacy of the drug on general symptoms and in particular on motor skills, such as the use of the hand, the ability to communicate and on psychological disorders. We will also monitor the quality of sleep and the basic parameters of breathing and the heart, thanks to a new Italian-made smart T-shirt that we have tested, allowing us to make important discoveries on breathing defects in these patients.’ 
The study also involves monitoring the stress levels of caregivers and detecting biomarkers in the blood, such as neurotrophic factors, which are useful for assessing the effects of the drug on developmental recovery and plasticity of the nervous system.

Every clinical trial has high costs, but thanks to the non-profit nature of the project, it has been possible to reduce them considerably and, thanks to the generosity of donors, the hospitals in Messina, Milan and Siena will also be equipped with the instrumentation to conduct the actigraphy, and 54 smart T-shirts will be purchased. 

Centres and researchers involved in the experimentation:

Coordinator - Prof. Enrico TONGIORGI, Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste.
Partner 1 – Prof. Maria Paola CANEVINI, Dr. Ilaria VIGANÓ, ASST Ospedale Santi Paolo Carlo - Via di Rudinì 8; Milano; Prof. Aglaia VIGNOLI (MD) ‘Statale’ University of Milan.
Partner 2 – Prof. Lino NOBILI, Dr. Giulia PRATO – Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Sciences (DINOGMI), University of Genoa - Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, Research Hospital, Giannina Gaslini Institute, Genoa.
Partner 3 – Dr. Salvatore GROSSO, Dr. Claudio DE FELICE – Rett Syndrome Research and Experimentation Centre - Paediatric/Neuropaediatric Unit, Mother and Child Department – Polyclinic ‘Santa Maria alle Scotte’, Siena.
Partner 4 – Prof. Gabriella DI ROSA, Dr. Antonio NICOTERA - ‘Gaetano Barresi’ Department of Human Pathology of Adults and the Age of Development, ‘G. Martino’University Polyclinic, University of Messina.

Giulia Piacente and Giulia Toscano, both graduates in Architecture, are the winners of the first edition of the ‘Fermeglia Prize’ for the best Master's thesis on the topics of energy, transport and the environment.

The €1,000 prize was presented by Professor Sabrina Pricl on behalf of the family of Maurizio Fermeglia, former Rector of the University of Trieste, who passed away prematurely in 2024.

The thesis ‘From Waterscape to Nautopia: Scenarios of Global Warming and Stories of Architecture, Spaces and Radical Habitats’ (Advisor prof. Thomas Bisiani) presents an imaginative and futuristic vision of cities on water.

Starting from a reflection on global warming and the consequent rise in sea levels, the two students conceived Nautopia, a floating village for 2,000 people. Partially submerged, it is designed to submerge further in bad weather and is surrounded by an artificial atoll to mitigate the impact of waves.

On the underwater level, a dedicated distribution grid allows for horizontal movement, is modular to expand or reduce spaces and includes a connection system linking the market, the commercial building and the cultural centre. The surface level is left open to allow navigation.

Movement between levels is made possible by lifting platforms, which enable vertical transport and the provision of energy, water and waste management systems.

Nautopia is self-sufficient in terms of food, water, energy and waste disposal, following a ‘zero waste’ approach in alignment with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

The ceremony was attended by Rector Roberto Di Lenarda and Alessandro Massi Pavan, Coordinator of the Giacomo Ciamician Interdepartmental Centre, which was involved in selecting the winning thesis project.

Preparations are already underway for Trieste Next – Festival of Scientific Research, whose fourteenth edition will take place from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th September.

The 2025 edition of the Festival will be dedicated to ‘Life Within: Dialogues Between Science and Technology.’

Since its first edition, Trieste Next has tackled key topics in scientific and cultural debate, from food and water to energy and the relationship between humans and technology, as well as the theme of sustainability. The 2025 edition will offer an opportunity to explore the scientific agenda for the coming years and to reflect on the new frontiers of research and innovation, along with their limitations, including ethical ones.

Trieste Next will feature three days of conferences, seminars and workshops, with over 100 events on the programme, 300 speakers and a distinguished lineup of guests. There will also be exhibition spaces in Piazza Unità d’Italia and activities dedicated to schools.

For the third consecutive year, the ‘Trieste Next Prize: Science Book of the Year’ will be awarded, celebrating the masters of scientific communication. Last year's winner was Piero Martin with ‘Storie di errori memorabili’ (Laterza).

https://www.triestenext.it/

Three years ago, Russia started its full-scale war on Ukraine, in blatant violation of international law.

 Among the countless acts of aggression and their consequences is the displacement of Mariupol State University (MSU), one of the universities forming the Transform4Europe alliance. 

Our friends and partners at MSU show, at great costs and personal risks, exceptional resilience, strength and courage in upholding and defending the European values and our common spirit of European transformation. 

Transform4Europe stands firm with our friends and colleagues at Mariupol State University.

Creating materials that behave like living tissue is an ever closer prospect thanks to a University of Trieste – Keio University (Japan) study just published in Advanced Science.

The international research team that conceived the paper consists of Pierangelo Gobbo, Professor of Organic Chemistry at the Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UniTS, Prof. Taisuke Banno and PhD student Tomoya Kojima from Keio University.  

The scientists have developed an innovative method for assembling ‘prototissue’ fibres from microscopic vesicles, demonstrating how it is possible to synthesise materials that mimic the behaviour of human body tissue from scratch. The process exploits the adhesion between two types of oppositely charged vesicles, which are joined by ‘salt bridges’ acting as a kind of natural glue. 

The innovation has multiple applications and is likely to revolutionise various fields from 3D bioprinting and the design of engineered tissues to the development of soft robotics for the creation of flexible and adaptable devices inspired by living organisms. 

In the clinical field, for example, it will be possible to graft such synthetic fibres tissues in vivo to support sick living tissues. Notably, some of the prototypes developed are able to detect the presence of glucose and produce a fluorescent ‘signalling’ molecule. In future, these fibres could be engineered to produce insulin in response to increased glucose, meaning it could be applied in interesting ways in the treatment of diabetes. 

The fibres could also be engineered to respond not only to chemical but also physical stimuli, such as temperature or light, and, by combining them in bundles, obtain new ‘smart’ biomimetic materials for muscle tissue repair.

The study was funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, the European Research Council (Starting Grant PROTOMAT) and the Next Generation EU programme (NRPP PRIN project 3D-L-INKED).
 

In the Picture: Prof. Pierangelo Gobbo, UniTS

From today, the University of Trieste and the University of Udine are connected by a quantum link running over fibre optics.

This connection marks the beginning of an infrastructure that is expected to grow rapidly, aiming to become a model for both Italy and Europe. The result of a five-year study, it is one of the key objectives of the Quantum FVG project, coordinated by the University of Trieste and funded by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.

The first milestone was the inauguration of the QCI Laboratory in 2024. Based at the CNR facility on the Basovizza campus within Area Science Park, the lab is dedicated to developing quantum solutions for the secure exchange of information.

The Rector of the University of Trieste, Roberto Di Lenarda, highlighted the significance of this initiative, stating that those leading technological development, in which quantum research plays a fundamental role, have the power to shape economic processes and contribute to a safer and fairer society. Through the Quantum FVG project and its future developments, the university aims to play a central role in this transformation by excelling in teaching, research, and technological innovation within this strategic field.

Similarly, the Rector of the University of Udine, Roberto Pinton, emphasised that quantum physics represents an important frontier of knowledge. He noted that, with the activation of this quantum link between Udine and Trieste, the universities of the region are making a significant contribution to research in this field. The technical expertise and experience gained over decades, dating back to the early days of the internet, have now enabled the creation of a system based on sophisticated and innovative technologies, positioning the region at the forefront of quantum communication in Italy.

The Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia has committed further funding through the 2025 Stability Law for a project called EQUIP-FVG (Extended Quantum Infrastructure Project for Friuli Venezia Giulia). This initiative will establish a permanent fibre-optic infrastructure for secure communication using quantum technology, with applications in maritime, port, and logistics operations. This experimental phase is part of a broader strategy to enhance cybersecurity and technological competitiveness. In the future, it will be extended to other critical infrastructures and cross-border projects, strengthening the security of the region’s entire logistics network and reinforcing Friuli Venezia Giulia’s leadership in strategically significant areas for the country. Regional Councillor for Labour, Education, Research, Universities, and Families, Alessia Rosolen, explained that this initiative represents one step in a wider regional effort.

In addition, Councillor for Information Systems, Sebastiano Callari, noted that this achievement has been made possible above all thanks to investments by the Region, which has developed the Regional Public Network (RPR). This fibre-optic network spans 1,600 km as a backbone and includes over 500 km of access networks in urban and industrial areas, connecting more than 1,300 public offices. For years, the regional administration has been working to improve and expand digital infrastructure, and quantum communication will now allow these networks to support highly secure applications between key nodes, including universities.

The quantum link between the two universities guarantees both security and stability. It allows for the generation of ultra-secure cryptographic keys to encrypt document exchanges, and it is not simply a demonstration of the technology. Instead, it is a permanent and stable connection, intended to be integrated into future operational services.

The University of Trieste and the University of Udine will continue collaborating to enhance its performance and integrate it into classical infrastructure such as the internet.

To establish the connection, both the acquisition of quantum communication equipment and the securing of the necessary fibre-optic network were required. The purchase of equipment was made possible thanks to the Quantum FVG project, supported by the Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Department for Labour, Education, Research, Universities, and Families. The fibre-optic infrastructure, on the other hand, was provided with the support of the Department for Public Assets, State Property, General Services, and Information Systems. 

A key role was played by LightNet, which will also be responsible for the technical management of the infrastructure.

This quantum link is part of a broader vision. The Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, through the QuFree project, has allocated additional funds to explore quantum communication via free-space optics, the equivalent of radio links, instead of using fibre optics. The goal is to secure communications for recipients who cannot be connected via fibre, such as ships.

Finally, preparations are underway for a European project that will extend the quantum network eastward to include Slovenia.

In the photo: a shot from the presentation of the conference at the University of Trieste

The University of Trieste is once again taking part in M’illumino di meno, the Italian National Day of Saving Energy and Sustainable Lifestyles, celebrated on 16th February. As a sign of its commitment, the LED lights illuminating the façade of Building A (Piazzale Europa 1) will be dimmed from sunset on Friday 14th February until dawn on Monday 17th February.

The initiative, launched by the popular Rai Radio2 programme Caterpillar in 2005, was officially recognised by the Italian Parliament in 2022. It has since become an opportunity to promote environmental sustainability and the responsible use of resources nationwide.

The 21st edition highlights the environmental impact of fast fashion, a sector that has been at the centre of growing debate in recent years due to its high resource consumption and the massive production of textile waste. In response to these issues, various sustainable alternatives are emerging, such as clothes swapping parties, upcycling, and the second-hand market.

‘The role of consumers is crucial in driving this change,’ says Chiara Marinelli, a PhD researcher in Circular Economy at DEAMS. ‘Initiatives like M’illumino di meno are essential for raising awareness of the impact of fast fashion and the importance of sustainable alternatives. Talking about the issue is not enough—we need to take action. Consumers must realise that their everyday choices have a direct impact on the environment, and real change requires collective commitment.’

Significant progress is being made in tackling issues related to sustainability, environmental impact, and transparency. On one hand, institutions are introducing new regulations to promote and incentivise more sustainable practices. On the other, technological advancements continue to pave the way for innovative solutions that could transform how we produce, consume, and recycle textiles.

‘At a regulatory level, the European Union is developing its textile strategy, introducing a “European passport” for each garment. This initiative aims to increase transparency regarding the origin and sustainability of clothing, helping consumers make more informed choices. In terms of technological innovation, many companies are developing promising solutions. One example is Bio Fashion Tech, a start-up I had the opportunity to collaborate with. It has developed a biomechanical technology capable of breaking down the polymers in garments and converting them into sugars that can be used in other industries, such as pharmaceuticals,’ Marinelli concludes.

As part of this initiative, UniTS highlights the importance of local projects like Sartoria Lister, a social cooperative that has been upcycling discarded clothing and materials since 2009, transforming them into unique accessories such as bags and backpacks. Sartoria Lister has collaborated with UniTS on an initiative sparked by a simple question: what should be done with the PVC banners printed for various editions of the Researchers’ Night and Trieste Next, which had been stored in university warehouses awaiting disposal? This led to the creation of the Mis-Mas line of bags, each one a unique and sustainable piece. These bags are available for purchase at the National Museum of Antarctica, at the San Giovanni Park (on Via Weiss 21, near the church).

A study has just been published in the international scientific journal Science of the Total Environment, which involved measuring mercury levels in the hair of fisherman and people working in the fishing industry in the Marano and Grado lagoon, one of the largest in Europe. 

The study was conducted by Luca Cegolon (UCO of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine of UniTS) in collaboration with Giuseppe Mastrangelo (University of Padua), the MercuRILab research group of the University of Trieste (directed by Stefano Covelli) and UniTS’s Occupational Medicine Department (directed by Francesca Larese Filon). 

The Marano and Grado lagoon was identified as a Site of National Interest (SNI) due to contamination from centuries-old mercury ore (cinnabar) from the Soča/Isonzo river draining into the Idria mining district in Slovenia (the second largest natural deposit in the world after Almaden in Spain). Inorganic forms of mercury were also present in the contamination, and came from uncontrolled industrial discharge. 

In the eastern sector of the lagoon, at the mouth of the Isonzo river, previous studies detected mercury concentrations of up to 11 mg/kg in sediments, gradually decreasing to 5 mg/kg in the central area and 0.7 mg/kg in the western sector. 

While the contamination of the eastern sector of the Lagoon was mainly attributable to mercury of mineral origin (cinnabar or mercury sulphide) from the Isonzo river, the mercury detected near the mouth of the Aussa-Corno river had an inorganic component, of industrial origin. 

The investigation by the University of Trieste, carried out in early 2024 in Marano Lagunare, compared the concentration of mercury in the hair of 73 fishermen (32 from the open sea, 30 from the lagoon and 11 mixed) and 83 local residents working in the fishing industry, with 93 residents from the Belluno area (mainly farmers). The survey focused on this group of people as they inevitably have greater access and availability to fish consumption than the general population. Residents from a mountainous area were chosen as the comparison category for the opposite reason. 

The average level of mercury detected in fishermen (2.56 mg/kg) and workers of the industry (2.31 mg/kg) was significantly higher than that of farmers in the Dolomites (0.58 mg/kg) and increased with the consumption of local fish, particularly fresh fish. An increase was also detected in categories such as fishermen, fish sellers or restaurateurs.

Although these values are slightly above the limit (2 mg/kg) recommended by the World Health Organisation, these concentrations are still well below 11.5 mg/kg, the limit below which no adverse effects on human health have been observed to date. The current situation, therefore, can be considered balanced, and does not contraindicate the consumption of fish from the lagoon. This is also true since fish carries selenium, a chemical element which offsets the effects of mercury. However, it is recommended that pregnant women and growing children limit their consumption of fresh fish to no more than one meal per week.