Thirty years ago, Northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic was one of the most air polluted areas in Europe. After political changes, the Czech government put forward a research program to determine if air pollution is really affecting human health. This program, later called the "Teplice Program", was initiated in collaboration with scientists from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). This cooperation made possible the use of methods on the contemporary level. The very high concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the air showed, for the first time, the impact of air pollutants on the health of the population in mining districts: adverse pregnancy outcomes, the impact of air pollution on sperm morphology, learning disabilities in children, and respiratory morbidity in preschool children. A surprising result came from the distribution of the sources of pollution: 70% of PM10 pollution came from local heating and not from power plants as expected. Thanks to this result, the Czech government supported changes in local heating from brown coal to natural gas. This change substantially decreased SO2 and PM10 pollution and affected mortality, especially cardiovascular mortality.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA adducts, PAHs, PM2.5, SO2, air pollution, mortality, neurobehavioral changes, pregnancy outcome, sperm abnormalities,
• MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pevné částice analýza   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zdraví MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší * analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch * MeSH
• pevné částice MeSH

Trends in total suspended particulates (TSP) emission inventories were compared with ambient TSP concentrations during the period of 1993-1999 in the Czech Republic. The TSP annual emission decreased within the period of observation from 441,300 to 67,000 of metric tonnes (by 85%). During the same period a less pronounced downward trend from 80.3 microg m(-3) to 31.5 microg m(-3) (decrease by 61%) was noted also for the ambient TSP annual average. Difference between the two air quality indicators seems to indicate that changes in TSP emission inventories from year to year are being to some extent overestimated. Monthly ambient particulate concentrations did not respond to overall drop in emissions proportionately but were closely associated with monthly mean temperatures. While in the winter the correlation between ambient TSP and temperature was negative, in summer the correlation between the two variables was positive. In spring and autumn there was no clear correlation between temperature and ambient particulate pollution. The improvement of air quality in the Czech Republic since the economical and political transformation in 1990s is substantial when demonstrated by emission figures, however, true state of particulate pollution expressed by ambient levels requires further attention.

• MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• politika MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• velikost částic MeSH
• životní prostředí MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH