Humans are widely exposed to phthalates and their novel substitutes, and considering the negative health effects associated with some phthalates, it is crucial to understand population levels and exposure determinants. This study is focused on 300 urine samples from teenagers (aged 12-17) and 300 from young adults (aged 18-37) living in Czechia collected in 2019 and 2020 to assess 17 plasticizer metabolites as biomarkers of exposure. We identified widespread phthalate exposure in the study population. The diethyl phthalate metabolite monoethyl phthalate (MEP) and three di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites were detected in the urine of >99% of study participants. The highest median concentrations were found for metabolites of low-molecular-weight (LMW) phthalates: mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP) and MEP (60.7; 52.6 and 17.6 μg/L in young adults). 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester (DINCH) metabolites were present in 68.2% of the samples with a median of 1.24 μg/L for both cohorts. Concentrations of MnBP and MiBP were similar to other European populations, but 5-6 times higher than in populations in North America. We also observed large variability in phthalate exposures within the study population, with 2-3 orders of magnitude differences in urinary metabolites between high and low exposed individuals. The concentrations varied with season, gender, age, and lifestyle factors. A relationship was found between high levels of MEP and high overall use of personal care products (PCPs). Cluster analysis suggested that phthalate exposures depend on season and multiple lifestyle factors, like time spent indoors and use of PCPs, which combine to lead to the observed widespread presence of phthalate metabolites in both study populations. Participants who spent more time indoors, particularly noticeably during colder months, had higher levels of high-molecular weight phthalate metabolites, whereas participants with higher PCP use, particularly women, tended to have higher concentration of LMW phthalate metabolites.
- MeSH
- diethylhexylftalát * moč MeSH
- kosmetické přípravky * analýza MeSH
- kyseliny ftalové * moč MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí * moč MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí analýza MeSH
- životní styl MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Characterization of PCB exposure sources for vulnerable population groups is essential to minimize the health effects of PCB exposure. At the same time, it is important to consolidate the knowledge on threshold intakes of PCBs for infants and toddlers to prevent health effects. We estimated total PCB concentrations from birth to 2 years of age in children from Slovak and Czech populations, which continue to have high PCB concentrations in breast milk. Using a pharmacokinetic (PK) model, we characterized dominant PCB exposure sources and estimated new threshold estimated daily intakes (TEDI) (above which adverse effects cannot be excluded) for postnatal PCB exposure in infants and toddlers. In the PK model, concentrations of seven indicator PCBs in breast milk and cord blood samples from 291 mother-child pairs from the Slovak birth cohort, and 396 breast milk samples from Czech mothers we used, together with their physiological characteristics and PCB concentrations from other exposure sources (food, dust, air). The estimated total PCB concentrations in children's blood at different ages were compared with threshold PCB concentrations of 500, 700 and 1000 ng·glipid-1 in serum proposed by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) and the German Environment Agency (UBA), above which possible adverse health effects may be expected. We estimated that up to 20.6% of Slovak children and up to 45.7% of Czech children at two years of age exceeded the threshold value of 700 ng·glipid-1 in blood. Mean TEDIs leading to values of 500 ng·glipid-1 in blood for children up to two years ranged between 110 and 220 ng·kg-1·bw·day-1, varying according to breastfeeding duration. Breast milk and prenatal exposure contributed to 71%-85% of PCBs exposure at two years of age. In contrast, the contributions of PCBs from dust and indoor air were negligible.
- MeSH
- kojenec MeSH
- kojení MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí * analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- lipidy MeSH
- mateřské mléko chemie MeSH
- nežádoucí účinky léčiv * MeSH
- polychlorované bifenyly * analýza MeSH
- prach MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- kojenec MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
To fulfill national and international fire safety standards, flame retardants (FRs) are being added to a wide range of consumer products and building materials consisting of flammable materials like plastic, wood and textiles. While the FR composition of some products and materials has been identified in recent years, the limited global coverage of the data and the large diversity in consumer products necessitates more information for an overall picture of the FR composition in common products/materials. To address this issue, 137 individual samples of various consumer products, building materials and wastes were collected. To identify and characterize potential sources of FRs in indoor environment, all samples were analyzed for content of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs) and novel flame retardants (NFRs). The most frequently detected were HBCDDs (85%), with the highest median concentration of Σ4HBCDDs of 300 mg kg(-1) in polystyrenes. The highest median concentration of Σ10PBDEs was found in recycled plastic materials, reaching 4 mg kg(-1). The lowest concentrations were observed for NFRs, where the median of Σ12NFRs reached 0.4 mg kg(-1) in the group of electrical & electronic equipment wastes. This suggests that for consumer products and building materials that are currently in-use, legacy compounds still contribute to the overall burden of FRs. Additionally, contrasting patterns of FR composition in recycled and virgin plastics, revealed using principle component analysis (PCA), suggest that legacy flame retardants are reentering the market through recycled products, perpetuating the potential for emissions to indoor environments and thus for human exposure.
- MeSH
- bromované uhlovodíky analýza MeSH
- halogenované difenylethery analýza MeSH
- konstrukční materiály analýza MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
- plastické hmoty analýza MeSH
- potřeby pro domácnost * MeSH
- retardanty hoření analýza MeSH
- tuhý odpad analýza MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from the group of persistent organic pollutants are detected in human tissues years or even decades after their ban. Exposure to PCBs and OCPs can pose risks to human health. In the present study, we calculated the daily intakes of PCBs and OCPs in the Czech population and investigated the long-term trends of human exposure to POPs. Data on POP concentrations from a 16-year period of breast-milk monitoring were used. A toxicokinetic model with consideration of compound-specific elimination half-lives was used to calculate the mothers' daily intake of PCBs and OCPs representing the intake of POPs by all exposure routes. The calculated intakes were compared with dietary intakes calculated by the Czech National Institute of Public Health. The comparison shows good agreement of both intake estimates with decreasing intake trends of POPs in the Czech population in the time period studied. However, several fluctuations with peaks of higher levels were observed in both datasets which are not typical for the period after the ban of use and production of POPs. The available evidence suggests that the increases in chemical concentrations might be caused by food contamination. The calculated intakes of compounds with longer elimination half-lives, such as higher-chlorinated PCBs, were higher in older mothers. This "memory effect" was already observed in other studies and indicates higher exposure in earlier life periods of the mother. Our results suggest that exposure to POPs is still relevant for the Czech population in the period after the ban of the use and production of POPs (post-ban period), especially via food ingestion, though the intake trends are decreasing. Possible food contamination by POPs in the post-ban period requires further assessment.
- MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- chlorované uhlovodíky analýza MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mateřské mléko chemie MeSH
- matky MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
- pesticidy analýza MeSH
- polychlorované bifenyly analýza MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a large group of important chemical compounds with unique and useful physico-chemical properties, widely produced and used in many applications. However, due to the toxicity, bioaccumulation and long-range transport potential of certain PFASs, they are of significant concern to scientists and policy makers. To assess human exposure to PFASs, it is necessary to understand the concentrations of these emerging contaminants in our environment, and particularly environments where urban population spend most of their time, i.e. buildings and vehicles. A total of 126 samples of building materials, consumer products, car interior materials and wastes were therefore analyzed for their content of key PFASs - 15 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs). At least one of the target PFAAs was detected in 88% of all samples. The highest concentration of Σ15PFAAs was found in textile materials (77.61 μg kg(-1)), as expected, since specific PFAAs are known to be used for textile treatment during processing. Surprisingly, PFAAs were also detected in all analyzed composite wood building materials, which were dominated by perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids with 5-8 carbons in the chain (Σ4PFCAs up to 32.9 μg kg(-1)). These materials are currently widely used for building refurbishment, and this is the first study to find evidence of the presence of specific PFASs in composite wood materials. Thus, in addition to consumer products treated with PFASs, materials used in the construction of houses, schools and office buildings may also play an important role in human exposure to PFASs.
- MeSH
- fluorokarbony analýza MeSH
- konstrukční materiály analýza MeSH
- kyseliny karboxylové analýza MeSH
- látky znečišťující životní prostředí analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- městské obyvatelstvo MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí metody MeSH
- odpadní produkty analýza MeSH
- potřeby pro domácnost normy MeSH
- spotřebitelská bezpečnost produktů MeSH
- textilie analýza MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Two groups of perfluorined compounds (PFCs), i.e. perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFASs) and perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) were analysed during a period of 1 year in monthly collected riverbed sediment samples from five sampling sites in an industrial region in Morava River catchment in Czech Republic. Levels of PFCs determined in sediment samples were up to 6.8 μg kg(-1) of dry weight. Among PFCs analysed, mainly short-chain PFASs (C6 to C8) including PFOS were found in sediment samples and their levels were similar to those found in comparable river basins in other parts of Europe. Concentrations of PFCs were correlated with organic carbon content and their variations were mainly correlated by high flow events on Morava River and its tributaries. The changes in PFC concentrations were induced by displacing of PFCs containing particles to the river sediment during these elevated flow events.
- MeSH
- chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza MeSH
- fluorokarbony analýza MeSH
- geologické sedimenty chemie MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
- řeky chemie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Field crops represent one of the highest contributions to dietary metal exposure. The aim of this study was to develop specific regression models for the uptake of metals into various field crops and to compare the usability of other available models. We analysed samples of potato, hop, maize, barley, wheat, rape seed, and grass from 66 agricultural sites. The influence of measured soil concentrations and soil factors (pH, organic carbon, content of silt and clay) on the plant concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn was evaluated. Bioconcentration factors (BCF) and plant-specific metal models (PSMM) developed from multivariate regressions were calculated. The explained variability of the models was from 19 to 64% and correlations between measured and predicted concentrations were between 0.43 and 0.90. The developed hop and rapeseed models are new in this field. Available models from literature showed inaccurate results, except for Cd; the modelling efficiency was mostly around zero. The use of interaction terms between parameters can significantly improve plant-specific models.
- MeSH
- Brassica rapa chemie MeSH
- kontaminace potravin MeSH
- kukuřice setá chemie MeSH
- látky znečišťující půdu analýza MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- multivariační analýza MeSH
- pšenice chemie MeSH
- půda chemie MeSH
- regresní analýza MeSH
- teoretické modely * MeSH
- těžké kovy analýza MeSH
- zemědělské plodiny chemie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Recent studies have documented significant variability in the basic properties of artificial soil which is used as a standard medium in soil bioassays. Variability in key soil properties could confound the interpretation of toxicity data and bias the output of bioassays. The main aims of this study were (i) to identify the variability in the endpoints survival and reproduction of Folsomia candida and Enchytraeus crypticus related to the artificials soils prepared in different laboratories and (ii) to identify the specific physico-chemical properties of the artificial soils which influence the bioassays results. The results of reproduction tests showed that nearly all tested artificial soils were suitable for the survival and reproduction of both organisms as the validity criteria from the test standards were fulfilled. However, numbers of juveniles varied significantly among soils. The most important factor for F. candida performance was a coarser soil structure. C:N ratio (<22.6) were important for the reproduction of E. crypticus. Both species tolerated a pH (KCl) of artificial soils in the range of 4.27-6.8 and even low TOC (1.5%). Thus, it is possible to reduce peat content in artificial soils, which may increase the comparability of results to those for natural soils.
- MeSH
- analýza přežití MeSH
- chemické jevy MeSH
- členovci růst a vývoj MeSH
- Oligochaeta růst a vývoj MeSH
- půda chemie normy MeSH
- rozmnožování účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The subject of this study is the assessment of the influence of climate and land use change on the potential re-emission of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from background and agricultural soils. A deterministic spatially and temporally explicit model of the air-surface exchange was created, fed with distributed data of soil and atmospheric concentrations from real measurements, and run under various scenarios of temperature and land use change for a case study area representative of central European conditions. To describe land use influence, some important features were implemented including effect of plowing, influence of land cover, temperature of soil, and seasonal changes of air layer stability. Results show that volatilization of pesticides from soil largely exceeded dry gas deposition in most of the area. Agricultural soils accounted for more than 90% of the total re-emissions both because of the generally higher soil fugacities (higher loads of chemicals and relatively low organic carbon content), but also due to physical characteristics and land management practices enhancing the dynamics of the exchange. An increase of 1 °C in air temperature produced an increase of 8% in the averaged total volatilization flux, however this effect can be neutralized by a change of land use of 10% of the arable lands to grassland or forest, which is consistent with projected land use change in Europe. This suggests that future assessment of climate impact on POP fate and distribution should take into consideration land use aspects.
- MeSH
- dichlordifenyldichlorethylen analýza chemie MeSH
- hexachlorbenzen analýza chemie MeSH
- látky znečišťující půdu analýza chemie MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch analýza chemie MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
- podnebí MeSH
- teoretické modely * MeSH
- teplota MeSH
- volatilizace MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Data mining (DM) is a widely adopted methodology for the analysis of large datasets which is on the other hand often overestimated or incorrectly considered as a universal solution. This statement is also valid for clinical research, in which large and heterogeneous datasets are often processed. DM in general uses standard methods available in common statistical software and combines them into a complex workflow methodology covering all the steps of data analysis from data acquisition through pre-processing and data analysis to interpretation of the results. The whole workflow is aimed at one final goal – to find any interesting, non-trivially hidden and potentially useful information. This innovative concept of data mining was adopted in our educational course of the Faculty of Medicine at the Masaryk University accessible from its e-learning portal http://portal. med.muni.cz/clanek-318-zavedeni-technologie-data-miningu-a-analyzy-dat--genovych-expresnich-map-do-vyuky.html.
- MeSH
- biostatistika metody MeSH
- data mining * metody trendy MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- multifaktorová rozměrová redukce metody MeSH
- počítačem řízená výuka * metody trendy MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
