Ozone exacerbates allergy symptoms to certain pollens. The molecular mechanisms by which ozone affects pollen grains (PGs) and allergies are not fully understood, especially as the effects of pollutants may vary depending on the type of pollen. In this work, pollens of 22 different taxa were exposed under laboratory conditions to ozone (100 ppb) to quantify the ozone uptake by the PGs. The ozone uptake was highly variable among the 22 taxa tested. The highest ozone uptake per PG was measured on Acer negundo PGs (2.5 ± 0.2 pg∙PG-1). On average, tree pollens captured significantly more ozone than herbaceous pollens (average values of 0.5 and 0.02 pg∙PG-1, respectively). No single parameter (such as the number of apertures, pollen season, pollen size, or lipid fraction) could predict a pollen's ability to take up ozone. Lipids seem to act as a barrier to ozone uptake and play a protective role for some taxa. After inhalation of PGs, pollen-transported ozone could be transferred to mucous membranes and exacerbate symptoms through oxidative stress and local inflammation. Although the amount of ozone transported is small in absolute terms, it is significant compared to the antioxidant capacity of nasal mucus at a microscale. This mechanism of pollen-induced oxidative stress could explain the aggravation of allergic symptoms during ozone pollution episodes.
The study was carried out at six sites in the Jizerskehory Mts. in the north of the Czech Republic. At all these sites, ranging in altitude between 460 and 962 m a. s. l., and during the period from June to September in 2008, O3 concentrations and environmental parameters important for accumulated stomatal O3 flux (AFst) into Fagus sylvatica leaves were measured. At five sites, visible injury on Fagus sylvatica L. juvenile tree leaves was observed. A combination of actual O3 levels in the Jizerkehory Mts. and environmental conditions, though relative air humidity and air temperature significantly limited stomatal conductance, has been sufficient enough to cause O3 uptake exceeding the critical level (CL) for forest ecosystems. The AFst values ranged between 13.4 and 22.3 mmol O3 m(-2). The CL for the accumulated stomatal flux of O3 above a flux threshold 1.6 nmol m(-2) s(-1) (AFst1.6) was exceeded at all sites from ca 45 to 270% (160% on average). The CL of 5 ppm h(-1) for AOT40 (accumulated O3 exposure above threshold of 40 ppb) was exceeded at four sites. The relationship between visible injury on O3 indices was found. The conclusions based on AOT40 and AFSt are not the same. AFSt has been determined as better predictor of visible injury than AOT40.
- MeSH
- buk (rod) fyziologie MeSH
- ekosystém MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch analýza toxicita MeSH
- listy rostlin chemie MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
- ozon analýza toxicita MeSH
- průduchy rostlin fyziologie MeSH
- stromy MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Respiratory irritants are substances which can cause inflammation or other adverse reactions in the respiratory system (lungs, nose, mouth, larynx and trachea) after being inhaled. Depending on the type and amount of irritant gas inhaled, victims can experience symptoms ranging from minor respiratory discomfort to acute airway and lung injury and even death. The lungs are susceptible to many airborne irritants. A common response cascade to a variety of irritant gases includes inflammation, edema and epithelial sloughing which, left untreated, can result in scar formation and pulmonary and airway remodeling. There are hundreds of substances that can pollute air and harm lungs. Harmful gases and chemicals are just one type of airborne pollutants that can adversely affect the lungs. Examples of respiratory irritants include, for example, chlorine, amonium, ozone, sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxides. These substances, their sources of exposure, physical and other properties, and effects on the victim are summarized in this article.
- MeSH
- amoniak otrava toxicita MeSH
- bronchiolitida etiologie MeSH
- chlor otrava toxicita MeSH
- dráždivé látky * otrava škodlivé účinky toxicita MeSH
- inhalační expozice * škodlivé účinky MeSH
- kyselina chlorovodíková otrava toxicita MeSH
- kyselina fluorovodíková otrava toxicita MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- obstrukce dýchacích cest etiologie MeSH
- oxid dusičitý otrava toxicita MeSH
- oxid siřičitý otrava toxicita MeSH
- ozon otrava toxicita MeSH
- plicní fibróza etiologie MeSH
- plicní nemoci * etiologie MeSH
- plyny * škodlivé účinky toxicita MeSH
- popálení inhalací kouře MeSH
- syndrom dechové tísně etiologie MeSH
- zánět etiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
PURPOSE: Though numerous studies investigating ambient ozone (O(3)) effects on human health were published, such a study for Central Europe is still lacking. We have investigated the association between ozone (O(3)) levels and hospital admissions and mortality due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases for Prague inhabitants for summer months (April-September) over the 5-year period 2002-2006. Our hypothesis was that ambient O(3) levels in Prague resulted in adverse health outcomes and were associated with increased mortality and hospital admissions. METHODS: The effect of O(3) on mortality and hospital admissions was investigated using the negative binomial regression after controlling for the influence of meteorological factors (air temperature and relative humidity) and calendar effects (seasonal patterns, long-term trends and day of week). RESULTS: We found a statistically significant association between O(3) levels and daily mortality from respiratory diseases. Relative risk of 1.080 (95% CI: 1.031-1.132) was observed for mortality from respiratory diseases per 10 μg m(-3) increase in 1-day lagged daily mean O(3) concentration. No statistically significant association was detected between O(3) concentrations and daily mortality from all causes, daily mortality from cardiovascular diseases and hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The O(3) effects differed in men and women, nevertheless, the results were ambiguous with respect to used lag and O(3) metrics. No significant confounding effects of PM(10) on the investigated association were observed. CONCLUSIONS: O(3) exposure in Prague, though lower as compared to many other cities in Europe, is high enough to cause adverse health effects.
- MeSH
- hospitalizace statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- kardiovaskulární nemoci mortalita MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch analýza toxicita MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- ozon analýza toxicita MeSH
- poruchy dýchání mortalita MeSH
- velkoměsta statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- zdravotní stav * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
- velkoměsta statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
The ozone effect on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L) Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) was studied on 48 monitoring plots in 2005-2008. These plots represent two major forest tree species stands of different ages in eight regions of the Czech Republic. The forest conditions were represented by defoliation and the annual radial increment of individual trees. The ozone exposure was assessed by using modeled values of mean annual O(3) concentration and the AOT40 index. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the foliage was analysed and used as an indicator of oxidative stress. The correlation analysis showed a significant relation of Norway spruce defoliation to the AOT40 exposure index, and European beech defoliation to the MDA level. The radial increment response to ozone was significant only for the European beech: (a) the correlation analysis showed its decrease with increasing AOT40; (b) the regression model showed its decrease with increasing mean annual ozone concentration only at lower altitudes (<700 m a.s.l.).
- MeSH
- buk (rod) účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch analýza toxicita MeSH
- malondialdehyd metabolismus MeSH
- monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
- ozon analýza toxicita MeSH
- smrk účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- stromy účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- znečištění ovzduší statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Autoři předkládají kazuistiku hromadného výskytu zdravotních obtíží u zaměstnanců firmy zabývající se potiskem jednorázových papírových dětských plen. Firma má s klinikou pracovního lékařství uzavřenu smlouvu o poskytování pracovnělékařských služeb, a to od roku 2010, kdy byla ve zcela novém objektu zahájena výroba. Všichni zaměstnanci se tehdy podrobili komplexní vstupní prohlídce. Následně při pravidelných preventivních prohlídkách zaměstnanci uváděli četné zdravotní obtíže v souvislosti s pobytem na pracovišti. Systematickým úsilím hygienické služby se podařilo opakovaně potvrdit výskyt zvýšených koncentrací ozónu v pracovním ovzduší výrobní haly. Ozón vzniká při činnosti zařízení tzv. „plazmy“, která je součástí potiskovacího stroje. Bylo však konstatováno, že vzduchotechnika výrobní haly není spolehlivě funkční a přívod vzduchu do haly je zejména v chladném období roku nedostatečný. Počátkem roku 2012 se na kliniku pracovního lékařství dostavil první zaměstnanec, odeslaný svým praktickým lékařem pro konkrétní obtíže a současné podezření na nemoc z povolání. U jmenovaného pacienta bylo objektivizováno chronické poškození nosní sliznice. Hygienické šetření opět prokázalo koncentrace ozónu překračující NPK-P. V návaznosti na výsledky měření a rovněž v souvislosti s ohlášenou nemocí z povolání byla u všech zaměstnanců ve výrobě provedena mimořádná pracovnělékařská prohlídka, při níž bylo vyšetřeno 38 zaměstnanců (37 mužů, jedna žena). Subjektivní obtíže s možným vztahem ke zvýšené expozici ozónu uvedlo 21 osob (55 %). Celkem byla nemoc z povolání uznána třem osobám (chronické poškození nosní sliznice způsobené ozónem, podle kapitoly I a položky 58 platného seznamu nemocí z povolání – nemoci z dalších látek a směsí).
The authors present the case report describing a mass occurrence of health problems in employees of a company dealing with printmaking on the disposable child paper nappies (diapers). The company has a contract with the Clinic of Occupational Medicine to provide occupational medical services since 2010, when the production of the firm started. All employees underwent entry examination at that time. In subsequent follow-up examinations the employees reported various health complaints related to the stay at the workplace. The systematic search of the hygienic services repeated confirmed elevated concentrations of ozone in the working atmosphere of the production hall. Ozone develops during the activity of plasma device which is a part of the printing machine. It has become obvious that air-conditioning was not functioning reliably and the inflow of air into the production hall was insufficient especially during the cold periods of the year. At the beginning of 2012 the family physician sent the first employee to the Clinic for specific complaints and simultaneously indicated suspicion of an occupational disease. A chronic damage of nasal mucosa in the patient was indeed proved. A subsequent hygienic survey again proved ozone concentrations exceeding MAC at work. In succession to these results as well as the acknowledged occupational disease an extra follow up occupational medical check-up was performed in all employees, when 38 employees were examined (37 men and one woman). Subjective complaints possibly related to increased exposure to ozone were reported by 21 persons (55%). Altogether, the occupational disease was recognized in three persons (chronic damage to nasal mucosa caused by ozone according to chapter I and item 58 in valid list of occupational diseases – diseases from other substances and mixtures).
- MeSH
- amoniak MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- environmentální zdraví MeSH
- hygiena práce * MeSH
- látky znečišťující vzduch v pracovním prostředí * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- nemoci dýchací soustavy MeSH
- nemoci z povolání * MeSH
- nosní sliznice MeSH
- otorinolaryngologie MeSH
- ozon * škodlivé účinky toxicita MeSH
- pracovní lékařství MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladiství MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- kazuistiky MeSH
Malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation and biomarker of oxidative stress, is measured over the long term in spruce Picea abies needles under real conditions in three Czech mountain border areas. The trends presented collate the MDA content in spruce needles with ambient ozone, temperature and precipitation as casual, and defoliation as a subsequent factor for the period 1994-2006. We have found the overall decreasing trends in MDA and defoliation. The highest MDA and defoliation are recorded in the Jizerske, the lowest in the Krusne hory Mts. Out of the examined variables the MDA is predicted best by mean temperature in vegetation season, median of O(3) concentrations and AOT40; these three variables account for 34% of MDA1 and 36% of MDA2 variability. Our hypothesis that higher ambient O(3) exposure results in higher MDA contents in P. abies needles under real conditions has not been approved.
- MeSH
- malondialdehyd metabolismus MeSH
- oxidační stres fyziologie MeSH
- ozon toxicita MeSH
- smrk účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- stromy MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
