Characterizing Black Carbon (BC) at regional background areas is important for better understanding its impact on climate forcing and health effects. The variability and sources of Equivalent Black Carbon (EBC) in PM10 (atmospheric particles with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm) have been investigated during a 5-year measurement period at the National Atmospheric Observatory Košetice (NAOK), Czech Republic. Ground based measurements were performed from September 2012 to December 2017 with a 7-wavelength aethalometer (AE31, Magee Scientific). The contributions of fossil fuel (EBCff) and biomass burning (EBCbb) were estimated using the aethalometer model. Seasonal, diurnal and weekly variations of EBC were observed that can be related to the sources fluctuations and transport characteristic of pollutants predominantly associated with regional air masses recirculating over the Czech Republic and neighboring countries. The absorption Ångström exponent (α-value) estimated in summer (1.1 ± 0.2) was consistent with reported value for traffic, while the mean highest value (1.5 ± 0.2) was observed in winter due to increased EBCbb accounting for about 50% of the total EBC. This result is in agreement with the strong correlation between EBCbb and biomass burning tracers (levoglucosan and mannosan) in winter. During this season, the concentrations of EBCbb and Delta-C (proxy for biomass burning) reached a maximum in the evening when increasing emissions of wood burning in domestic heating devices (woodstoves/heating system) is expected, especially during the weekend. The diurnal profile of EBCff displays a typical morning peak during the morning traffic rush hour and shows a decreasing concentration during weekends due to lower the traffic emission.

• Klíčová slova
• Biomass burning, Equivalent Black Carbon, Fossil fuel, Rural background variability, Source apportionment,
• MeSH
• aerosoly MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * chemie   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• uhlík * chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aerosoly MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH
• uhlík * MeSH

This study aimed to evaluate the relevance of the floodplain pollution sinks of the legacy mercury (Hg) hot spot in Kössein-Röslau river system (east Bavaria, Germany) for further mobilisation and fluvial transport of mercury in suspended particulate matter (SPM), as an important transport medium of Hg in aquatic systems. The channel belt fluvial erosion as the secondary pollution pathway was also considered. The hot spot has originated from the production of Hg compounds such as C2H5HgCN and C6H5HgCl in Chemical Factory Marktredwitz, and even more than 30 years after the factory abandonment, the Kössein and the Röslau rivers still export polluted fine grained SPM (median 25-35 μm) with mean annual concentrations of 17.4 mg/kg. SPM sampling was performed by floating samplers, supported by floodplain drill cores and by recent channel sediments manually collected along the polluted rivers further. Based on long-term monitoring data set from state enterprise Povodí Ohře, fish in the Skalka Reservoir have had Hg concentrations in their muscles up to 6 mg/kg for at least the last 14 years, exceeding the European maximal limit of 0.5 mg/Hg/kg. In addition, the Hg inventory in the Kössein-Röslau river stretches was therefore calculated; it produced an estimate of ca. 21 t Hg in a 22-km-long channel belt, prone to fluvial remobilisation during floods. Although a major portion of the fluvially transported Hg has yet been trapped by the Skalka Reservoir, the Hg content in the SPM exported farther downstream still varies between 2 and 10 mg/kg Hg. Due to the considerable Hg inventory in the Kössein-Röslau rivers, an improvement will not occur downstream unless specific measures target the secondary pollution mechanism(s).

• Klíčová slova
• Eger river, Fluvial system, Legacy pollution, Mercury compounds, Ohře floodplain, Sediment reworking,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   MeSH
• geologické sedimenty chemie   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• pevné částice analýza   chemie   MeSH
• řeky chemie   MeSH
• rtuť analýza   MeSH
• ryby MeSH
• záplavy MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Německo MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH
• rtuť MeSH

Air pollution is a high priority global health concern. The health damaging effects of ambient particulate matter (PM), a component of air pollution, are extensively documented, with 1.4% of deaths worldwide resulting from exposure to PM. A growing body of evidence suggests that mineral dust, found in PM, may contribute to some of these deleterious health impacts. Approximately half of atmospheric mineral dust originates from the Sahara Desert. This systematic but concise review summarizes the findings from recent literature exploring the adverse health effects of Saharan dust particles worldwide. The authors have shown that 1) PM contributes to all-cause and cause-specific mortality and morbidity; 2) the PM arising from Saharan dust contributes to excess all-cause and cause-specific mortality and morbidity; and 3) larger particle sizes may be more harmful than smaller particle sizes. However, there remain many questions regarding their effects on vulnerable patient populations, underlying mechanisms of action, and regional variations in both environmental and health effects. This review highlights the urgent need for continued and deeper analyses of this emerging public health issue. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(6):749-60.

• Klíčová slova
• Africa, Air Pollution, Northern Africa, Public Health, dust, particulate matter,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• minerály škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• morbidita MeSH
• mortalita MeSH
• pevné částice škodlivé účinky   chemie   MeSH
• velikost částic MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• severní Afrika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• minerály MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH

High concentrations of airborne asbestos in the ambient air are still a serious problem of air quality in numerous localities around the world. Since 2002, elevated concentrations of asbestos minerals of unknown origin have been detected in the ambient air of Pilsen, Czech Republic. To determine the asbestos fibre sources in this urban air, a systematic study was conducted. First, 14 bulk dust samples were collected in Pilsen at nine localities, and 6 bulk samples of construction aggregates for gravel production were collected in a quarry in the Pilsen-Litice district. The quarry is the largest quarry in the Pilsen region and the closest quarry to the built-up urban area. X-ray diffraction of the asbestos minerals revealed that monoclinic amphibole (MA, namely actinolite based on subsequent SEM-EDX analysis) in the bulk samples accounted for < 1-33% of the mass and that the highest values were found in the bulk dust samples from the railway platform of the Pilsen main railway station. Simultaneously, 24-h samples of airborne particulate matter (PM) at three localities in Pilsen were collected. Actinolite was identified in 40% of the PM samples. The relationship between the meteorology and presence of actinolite in the 24 PM10 samples was not proven, probably due to the long sampling integration time. Therefore, highly time-and-size-resolved PM sampling was performed. Second, sampling of size-segregated aerosols and measurements of the wind speed (WS), wind direction (WD), precipitation (P) and hourly PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were conducted in a suburban locality near the quarry in two monthly highly time-resolved periods (30, 60, 120 min). Three/eight PM size fractions were sampled by a Davis Rotating-drum Uniform-size-cut Monitor (3/8DRUM) and analysed for the presences of asbestos fibres by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Asbestos fibre detection in highly time-resolved PM samples and current WD and WS determination allows the apportionment directionality of asbestos fibre sources. The number of critical actinolite asbestos fibres (length ≥ 5 μm and width < 3 μm, 3:1) increased with the PM1-10/PM10 and PM2.5-10/PM10 ratios, WS > 2 m s-1 and precipitation < 1 mm. Additionally, the number of critical actinolite asbestos fibres was not related to a specific WD. Therefore, we conclude that the sources of airborne critical actinolite asbestos fibres in Pilsen's urban area are omnipresent. Frequent use of construction aggregates and gravel from the metamorphic spilite quarries in the Pilsen region and in many localities around the urban area is a plausible explanation for the omnipresence of the critical actinolite asbestos fibres concentration in Pilsen's ambient air. Mitigation strategies to reduce the concentrations of critical actinolite asbestos fibres must be developed. Continuous monitoring and performing SEM-EDX analysis of highly time-and-size-resolved PM samples, correlated with fast changing WS and WD, seems to be a strong tool for efficiently controlling the mitigation strategies of critical actinolite asbestos fibres.

• Klíčová slova
• Actinolite asbestos, DRUM sampler, Naturally occurring asbestos, SEM-EDX, X-ray powder diffraction,
• MeSH
• aerosoly analýza   MeSH
• azbest chemie   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch analýza   MeSH
• mikroskopie elektronová rastrovací MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   MeSH
• prach analýza   MeSH
• velikost částic MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aerosoly MeSH
• azbest MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH
• prach MeSH

In situ experiments were done to determine the effects of the photochemical degradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and subsequent formation of particulate matter on dissolved phosphorus (P) concentrations in surface waters. Filtered (1.2 or 0.4 μm) headwaters (DOM of 8.1-26 mg L-1; P of 22-43 μg L-1) were exposed to solar radiation in quartz bottles located 5 cm below the water surface for 7-10 days. Dark controls were wrapped in aluminum foil. After incubation, particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate phosphorus (PP) were determined in both the filtrate and newly formed particles. The results revealed increasing concentrations of PP and POC in exposed samples with increasing exposure time (cumulative irradiation energy). At the end of experiments, PP concentrations were from 5 to 20 μg L-1 in the exposed samples. Based on an enumeration of bacteria in the samples, we estimated the contribution of biotic and abiotic processes to the PP production. The abiotic PP formation ranged from 56 to 83% and 50-95% of the total PP in the exposed and control samples, respectively. The remainder was assumed to be bacterial P uptake. Despite the overlapping intervals, biotic and abiotic PP productions were usually higher in exposed samples than in controls. The PP and POC production was affected by the properties of DOM, such as its humic content and freshness index. We hypothesize that the observed immobilization of dissolved P in bacteria and on photochemically-formed particles can contribute to a P limitation of primary production in headwater environments that receive waters rich in soil DOM.

• Klíčová slova
• Aluminum, Dissolved organic matter, Iron, Phosphorus, Photochemistry,
• MeSH
• fosfor chemie   MeSH
• fotochemie metody   MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fosfor MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH

Internal combustion engine emissions belong among the major anthropogenic sources of air pollution in urban areas. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there is sufficient evidence of the carcinogenicity of diesel exhaust in human beings. Although alternative fuels, mainly biodiesel, have recently become popular, little is still known about the genotoxicity of emissions from these fuels. We analysed DNA damage expressed as the frequency of micronuclei (MN) in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B), induced by extractable organic matter (EOM; tested concentrations: 1, 10 and 25 μg/ml) obtained from particle emissions from various blends of biodiesel with diesel fuels (including neat diesel fuel (B0), a blend of 70% B0 and 30% biodiesel (B30) and neat biodiesel (B100)). We also tested the effect of selected diesel exhaust organic/genotoxic components [benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) concentrations: 25, 100 and 200 μM; 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) concentrations: 1, 5 and 10 μM; 3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA) concentrations: 1, 5 and 50 μM]. The cells were treated with the compounds for 28 and 48 hr. Our results showed that most of the tested compounds (except for the 25 μM B[a]P, 28-hr treatment) significantly increased MN frequency. The genotoxicity of EOMs from the engine emissions of diesel and biodiesel engines was comparable. Both nitro-PAH compounds demonstrated higher genotoxic potential in comparison with B[a]P. Considering our results and due to increasing popularity of alternative fuels, it is prudent that the potential genotoxic effects of various fuels are investigated across engine technologies and operating conditions in a relevant model system.

• MeSH
• benz(a)anthraceny chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• benzopyren chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• biopaliva toxicita   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• epitelové buňky MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrojaderné testy metody   MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• poškození DNA * MeSH
• pyreny chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• výfukové emise vozidel toxicita   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 1-nitropyrene MeSH Prohlížeč
• 3-nitrobenzanthrone MeSH Prohlížeč
• benz(a)anthraceny MeSH
• benzopyren MeSH
• biopaliva MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH
• pyreny MeSH
• výfukové emise vozidel MeSH

Recently, fly ash deposits have been revealed as a secondary refuge of critically endangered arthropods specialised on aeolian sands in Central Europe. Simultaneously, these anthropogenic habitats are well known for their negative impact on human health and the surrounding environment. The overwhelming majority of these risks are caused by wind erosion, the substantial decreasing of which is thus necessary. But, any effects of anti-dust treatments on endangered arthropods have never been studied. We surveyed communities of five arthropod groups (wild bees and wasps, leafhoppers, spiders, hoverflies and orthopteroid insects) colonising three fly ash deposits in the western Czech Republic. We focused on two different anti-dust treatments (~70 and 100 % cover of fly ash by barren soil) and their comparison with a control of bare fly ash. Altogether, we recorded 495 species, including 132 nationally threatened species (eight of them were considered to be extinct in the country) and/or 30 species strictly specialised to drift sands. Bees and wasps and leafhoppers contained the overwhelming majority of species of the highest conservation interest; a few other important records were also in spiders and orthopteroids. Total soil cover depleted the unique environment of fly ash and thus destroyed the high conservation potential of the deposits. On the other hand, partial coverage (with ~30 % of bare fly ash) still offered habitats for many of the most threatened species, as we showed by both regression and multivariate analyses, with a decrease of wind erosion. This topic still needs much more research interest, but we consider mosaic-like preservation of smaller spots of fly ash as one of the possible compromises between biodiversity and human health.

• Klíčová slova
• Aculeata, Araneae, Auchenorrhyncha, Coal combustion, Human-made habitats, Orthoptera, Restoration ecology, Syrphidae,
• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• členovci účinky léků   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   MeSH
• popel uhelný analýza   MeSH
• prach * MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• regenerace a remediace životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• zdraví * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• pevné částice MeSH
• popel uhelný MeSH
• prach * MeSH
• půda MeSH

Photochemical transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) has been studied for more than two decades. Usually, laboratory or "in-situ" experiments are used to determine photodegradation variables. A common problem with these experiments is that the photodegradation experiments are done at higher than ambient temperature. Five laboratory experiments were done to determine the effect of temperature on photochemical degradation of DOM. Experimental results showed strong dependence of photodegradation on temperature. Mathematical modeling of processes revealed that two different pathways engaged in photochemical transformation of DOM to dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) strongly depend on temperature. Direct oxidation of DOM to DIC dominated at low temperatures while conversion of DOM to intermediate particulate organic carbon (POC) prior to oxidation to DIC dominated at high temperatures. It is necessary to consider this strong dependence when the results of laboratory experiments are interpreted in regard to natural processes. Photodegradation experiments done at higher than ambient temperature will necessitate correction of rate constants.

• MeSH
• fotolýza MeSH
• huminové látky analýza   účinky záření   MeSH
• kinetika MeSH
• oxidace-redukce MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   účinky záření   MeSH
• rozpustnost MeSH
• statistické modely * MeSH
• světlo MeSH
• teplota MeSH
• uhlík chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• huminové látky MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH
• uhlík MeSH

In this study, we compared the genotoxicity and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent transcriptional changes of selected target genes in human lung epithelial A549 cells incubated for 24 h, either with extractable organic matter (EOMs) from airborne particles <2.5 μm (PM2.5) collected at four localities from heavily polluted areas of the Czech Republic or two representative toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in EOMs, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and benzo[k]fluoranthene (B[k]F). Genotoxic effects were determined using DNA adduct analysis or analysis of expression of selected AhR-related genes involved in bioactivation of PAHs (CYP1A1, CYP1B1) and transcriptional repression (TIPARP). Sampled localities differing in the extent and source of air pollution did not exhibit substantially different genotoxicity. DNA adduct levels induced by three subtoxic EOM concentrations were relatively low (1-5 adducts/10(8) nucleotides), compared to levels induced by similar concentrations of B[a]P, while B[k]F gave very low DNA adduct levels. Here, we compared genotoxicity and gene deregulation induced by complex mixtures containing PAHs with the effects of the comparable concentrations of individual PAHs. Our results suggested inhibition of formation of B[a]P-induced DNA adducts compared to individual B[a]P, probably attributable to competitive inhibition by other non-genotoxic EOM components. In contrast, induction of AhR target genes appeared not to be antagonized by the components of complex mixtures, as induction of CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and TIPARP transcripts reached maximum levels induced by PAHs.

• Klíčová slova
• Air pollution, Benzo[a]pyrene, Complex mixtures, DNA adducts, PAHs, PM2.5,
• MeSH
• aromatické hydroxylasy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• benzopyren chemie   farmakokinetika   toxicita   MeSH
• cytochrom P-450 CYP1A1 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• cytochrom P450 CYP1B1 MeSH
• fluoreny chemie   farmakokinetika   toxicita   MeSH
• komplexní směsi farmakokinetika   toxicita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   farmakokinetika   toxicita   MeSH
• plíce účinky léků   enzymologie   metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• polymerázová řetězová reakce s reverzní transkripcí MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese enzymů účinky léků   MeSH
• RNA chemie   genetika   MeSH
• testy genotoxicity metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aromatické hydroxylasy MeSH
• benzo(k)fluoranthene MeSH Prohlížeč
• benzopyren MeSH
• CYP1A1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• CYP1B1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytochrom P-450 CYP1A1 MeSH
• cytochrom P450 CYP1B1 MeSH
• fluoreny MeSH
• komplexní směsi MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků MeSH
• RNA MeSH

Chemicals in air were characterized for potential interference with signaling of estrogen, androgen, and arylhydrocarbon (AhR) receptors, which are known to play an important role in endocrine-disruptive changes in vivo. Previously, effects of this type have been studied mainly in particulate matter in the ambient air from various localities. In this study, both volatile and particulate fractions of air from three sites in Banja Luka region (Bosnia and Herzegovina) were investigated to describe the distribution of endocrine-disrupting contaminants on a small spatial scale. Circadian variability of air pollution was investigated by collecting samples during both day and night. Air samples collected from urban localities at night were more potent in producing the AhR-mediated effects than those collected during daytime. This trend was not observed at the reference rural location. None of the samples showed significant estrogenic or androgenic activity. On the other hand, anti-androgenicity was detected in both particulate and vapor phases, while anti-estrogenicity was detected only in the particulate fraction of air from all localities. The AhR-mediated potencies of samples were associated primarily with non-persistent compounds. Based on the concentrations of 28 individual compounds, PAHs accounted for approximately 30 % of the AhR-mediated potency determined by the bioassay. The results show that there can be a significant difference between levels of bioactive compounds in air between daytime and nighttime.

• MeSH
• analýza hlavních komponent MeSH
• androgenní receptory MeSH
• biotest MeSH
• cirkadiánní rytmus MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch chemie   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• pevné částice chemie   MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• těkavé organické sloučeniny chemie   MeSH
• vzduch analýza   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• androgenní receptory MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny MeSH
• těkavé organické sloučeniny MeSH