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Following publication of the original article [1], the typesetters have missed to add the below listed study group author names in XML in author group section. The study group authors have been added to the author group and are presented correctly in this correction article. A minor change has been made to the electronic supplementary files by removing the yellow highlights and included in this correction. Study Group Authors: Andrea Festa1 Gaia Claudia Viviana Viola1 Ilaria Zerbini1 Cristina Fatigoni2 Sara Levorato2 Silvano Monarca2 Tania Salvatori2 Samuele Vannini2 Gabriele Donzelli3 Francesco Bagordo4 Mattia De Giorgi4 Marcello Guido4 Alessandra Panico4 Francesca Serio4 Maria Rosaria Tumolo4 Silvia Bonetta5 Marta Gea5 Giorgio Gilli5 Cristina Pignata5 Tiziana Schilirò5 Valeria Romanazzi5 Camilla Furia6 Beatrice Bruni7 Beatrice Casini7 Study Group Author Affiliations: 1Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Science and Public Health, University of Brescia, 11 Viale Europa, 25123 Brescia, Italy 2Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Unit of Public Health, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06122 Perugia, Italy 3Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 35/39 Via S. Zeno, 56127 Pisa, Italy 4Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, 165 Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy 5Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 94 Piazza Polonia, 10126 Turin, Italy 6Brescia Municipality, 1 Piazza Repubblica, 25100 Brescia, Italy 7Department of Translational Research, N.T.M.S., University of Pisa, 35/39 Via S. Zeno, 56127 Pisa, Italy Author details 1 Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Science and Public Health, University of Brescia, 11 Viale Europa, 25123 Brescia, Italy. 2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Unit of Public Health, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06122 Perugia, Italy. 3 Department of Biology, University of Pisa, 35/39 Via S. Zeno, 56127 Pisa, Italy. 4 Department of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, University of Salento, 165 Via Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy. 5 Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, 94 Piazza Polonia, 10126 Turin, Italy. 6 Multi-sector and Technological Service Centre - CSMT Gestione S.c.a.r.l, 45 Via Branze, 25123 Brescia, Italy. 7 Brescia Municipality, 1 Piazza Repubblica, 25100 Brescia, Italy. 8 Department of Statistic, Computer Science, Applications, University of Florence, 59 Viale Morgagni, 50134 Florence, Italy.

Introduction Genotoxic biomarkers have been studied largely in adult population, but few studies so far have investigated them in children exposed to air pollution. Children are a high-risk group as regards the health effects of air pollution and some studies suggest that early exposure during childhood can play an important role in the development of chronic diseases in adulthood. The objective of the project is to evaluate the associations between the concentration of urban air pollutants and biomarkers of early biological effect in children, and to propose a model for estimating the global risk of early biological effects due to air pollutants and other factors in children. Methods and analysis Two biomarkers of early biological effects, DNA damage by the comet assay and the micronuclei (MN) test, will be investigated in oral mucosa cells of 6–8-year-old children. Concurrently, some toxic airborne pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and nitro-PAH) and in vitro air mutagenicity and toxicity in ultra-fine air particulates (PM0.5) will be evaluated. Furthermore, demographic and socioeconomic variables, other sources of exposures to air pollutants and lifestyle variables will be assessed by a structured questionnaire. The associations between sociodemographic, environmental and other exposure variables and biomarkers of early biological effect using univariate and multivariate models will be analysed. A tentative model for calculating the global absolute risk of having early biological effects caused by air pollution and other variables will be proposed. Ethics and dissemination The project has been approved by the Ethics Committees of the local Health Authorities. The results will be communicated to local Public Health Agencies, for supporting educational programmes and health policy strategies. LIFE+2012 Environment Policy and Governance. LIFE12 ENV/IT/000614.

Background Recent data support the hypothesis that genetic damage occurring early in life during childhood can play an important role in the development of chronic diseases in adulthood, including cancer. Objectives The objective of this paper, part of the MAPEC_LIFE project, is to describe the frequency of micronuclei and meta-nuclear alterations in exfoliated buccal cells of 6–8year-old Italian children recruited in five Italian towns (i.e., Brescia, Torino, Pisa, Perugia and Lecce) with different air pollution levels. Methods About 200 children per town were recruited from primary schools. Biological samples were collected twice from the same children, in two different seasons (winter 2014-15 and late spring 2015). Cytogenetic damage was evaluated by the buccal micronucleus cytome assay. Results Overall,n = 1046 children represent the final cohort of the MAPEC_LIFE study. On the whole, the results showed a higher mean MN frequency in winter (0.42 ± 0.54‰) than late-spring (0.22 ± 0.34‰). MN frequency observed among the five Italian towns showed a trend that follows broadly the levels of air pollution in Italy: the highest MN frequency was observed in Brescia during both seasons, the lowest in Lecce (winter) and Perugia (late-spring). Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, the number of recruited children included in the analysis (n = 1046) is the highest compared to previous studies evaluating the frequency of MN in exfoliated buccal cells so far. MN frequency was associated with winter season and living in towns at various levels of air pollution, suggesting an important role of this exposure in determining early cytogenetic effects.

Background: From November 2015 to January 2016, the routine air monitoring showed a peak of air pollution (in particular of PM10) that caused alarm in many Italian cities and was widely reported by mass media. After some weeks from this alarm, we tried to evaluate the citizen awareness and interest towards air pollution together with their positive behaviors, using different information sources. Methods: From September 2015 to March 2016, in parallel with the number of exceedances of the PM10 in Italy we evaluated the press coverage, the average monthly searches on Google and the interest on Twitter. Moreover, a qualitative content analysis on daily newspapers was conducted and a self-compiled questionnaire on the attitudes and behaviors about environmental issues and their determinants was administered to 598 parents involved in the project MAPEC_LIFE (LIFE12 ENV/IT/00614). Results: The media coverage of the theme of air pollution was very high from the end of 2015 to the beginning of 2016, as well as internet searches and twitter messages. Our qualitative analysis highlighted that only a small portion of articles included information about positive behaviors and environmental awareness. Despite the high media coverage and the satisfactory self-perceived knowledge, the majority of respondents judged negatively the received information (as untrue and incomplete) and declared a limited adoption of pro-environmental behaviors. Conclusion: The parallel study of mass media information and people’s attitudes and behaviors seem to indicate that the high media coverage was not followed by a very high motivation towards pro-environmental behaviors.

The aim of the MAPEC_LIFE (Monitoring Air Pollution Effects on Children for Supporting Public Health Policy) study is to evaluate the associations between the concentrations of air pollutants and early biological effects in children living in five Italian towns (Brescia, Torino, Lecce, Perugia and Pisa) characterised by varying levels of air pollution. This paper presents the results of micronucleus cytome assays performed on the oral mucosa cells of subjects living in Lecce (Puglia, Italy) and their relationship to factors associated with indoor/outdoor exposure and lifestyles. The study was conducted on 6-8-year-old schoolchildren living in Lecce. The micronucleus cytome assay was performed on exfoliated buccal cells collected from the oral mucosa of children using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Micronuclei were evaluated only in normal differentiated cells. Overall, 43.0% of the samples tested were positive, with an average frequency of 0.28 MN/1000 differentiated cells. Data analysis shows positive associations between the frequency of MN in the children’s buccal mucosa cells and obesity, heavy traffic and smoking mothers, while outdoor sports seem to have the opposite effect. These data will be integrated with data from the other cities involved in the MAPEC_LIFE study and could be used

Background Epidemiological studies have found a consistent association between exposure to air pollution, especially to particulate matter (PM), and the incidence and mortality for several chronic diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Among the mechanisms responsible for these adverse effects, genotoxic damage is of particular concern. Children are a high risk group with respect to the short- and long-term effects …