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

Effects of air pollution on morbidity and mortality may be mediated by alterations in immune competence. In this study we examined short-term associations of air pollution exposures with lymphocyte immunophenotypes in cord blood among 1,397 deliveries in two districts of the Czech Republic. We measured fine particulate matter < 2.5 microm in diameter (PM2.5) and 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 24-hr samples collected by versatile air pollution samplers. Cord blood samples were analyzed using a FACSort flow cytometer to determine phenotypes of CD3+ T-lymphocytes and their subsets CD4+ and CD8+, CD19+ B-lymphocytes, and natural killer cells. The mothers were interviewed regarding sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, and medical records were abstracted for obstetric, labor and delivery characteristics. During the period 1994 to 1998, the mean daily ambient concentration of PM2.5 was 24.8 microg/m3 and that of PAHs was 63.5 ng/m3. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for temperature, season, and other covariates, average PAH or PM2.5 levels during the 14 days before birth were associated with decreases in T-lymphocyte phenotype fractions (i.e., CD3+ CD4+, and CD8+), and a clear increase in the B-lymphocyte (CD19+) fraction. For a 100-ng/m3 increase in PAHs, which represented approximately two standard deviations, the percentage decrease was -3.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), -5.6 to -1.0%] for CD3+, -3.1% (95% CI, -4.9 to -1.3%) for CD4+, and -1.0% (95% CI, -1.8 to -0.2%) for CD8+ cells. The corresponding increase in the CD19+ cell proportion was 1.7% (95% CI, 0.4 to 3.0%). Associations were similar but slightly weaker for PM2.5. Ambient air pollution may influence the relative distribution of lymphocyte immunophenotypes of the fetus.

• MeSH
• fetální krev cytologie   MeSH
• imunofenotypizace MeSH
• kohortové studie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lymfocyty cytologie   MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• polycyklické sloučeniny toxicita   MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polycyklické sloučeniny MeSH

The aim of the Teplice Program is to investigate and assess the impact of air pollution on the health of the population in the district of Teplice, Czech Republic. Characterization of the air pollutants demonstrated unusually high concentrations during winter inversions of fine particles dominated by acidic sulfates, genotoxic organic compounds, and toxic trace elements. The major source of airborne fine particles is the burning of coal for heating and power. Human exposure and biomarker studies demonstrated large seasonal variations in air pollution within the Teplice District and higher seasonal average pollution levels than the comparative district, Prachatice. Personal exposures to fine particles and organic carcinogens [e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)] were correlated with excretion of PAH metabolites in urine, several trace metals in blood, and DNA adducts in white blood cells. Respiratory and neurobehavioral studies of school children were conducted using questionnaires and clinical measures. A significantly higher prevalence of adverse respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function were found in the Teplice district than in Prachatice. The neurobehavioral studies indicated significantly higher teacher referrals for clinical assessment in Teplice, but the majority of objective performance measures did not differ. Reproductive studies were conducted in both males and females. A study of the effects of exposure on pregnancy and birth found an excess prevalence of low birth weight and premature births in Teplice; these adverse effects were more common in infants conceived in the winter and whose mothers were smokers. Based on questionnaires and medical examination, the reproductive development of young men was not different between districts and seasons, however, measures of semen quality suggest that exposure to high levels of air pollution are associated with transient decrements in semen quality.

• MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• dýchání MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• sociální péče o dítě MeSH
• sperma fyziologie   MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• výsledek těhotenství MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí MeSH
• zdraví * MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH

Population monitoring using methods of molecular epidemiology combined with reliable data on exposure is an extremely powerful approach to determine the effect of mutagens on human populations. Although human blood and urine have traditionally been used for biomonitoring, an increase in the use of placental and buccal smear samples should be expected. As biomarkers of exposure, DNA strand breaks and hemoglobin and albumin adducts seem to be most sensitive. As biomarkers of response, cytogenetic analysis determining chromosome aberrations or micronuclei has been widely used Additional information can be obtained by using the chromosome painting technique and by determining gene mutations at the hprt locus: however, epidemiological studies exhibiting a relationship between these biomarkers and environmental pollution are still lacking. The use of sperm to analyze the effect of environmental mutagens in germ cells (e.g, sperm morphology and sperm aneuploidy) should be encouraged. The determination of susceptibility by analyzing genetic polymorphism, which is responsible for individual differences in the biotransformation of mutagens and carcinogens, will gain importance for risk assessment. Future research should include validating molecular methods, studying adaptive response to chemical carcinogens, and studying the modulatory effect of antioxidants, as well as the effect of carcinogens on immunity.

• MeSH
• adukty DNA genetika   MeSH
• antioxidancia terapeutické užití   MeSH
• biologické markery * MeSH
• chromozomální aberace MeSH
• fyziologická adaptace MeSH
• karcinogeny životního prostředí analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• nádory chemicky indukované   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• oprava DNA MeSH
• předpověď MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adukty DNA MeSH
• antioxidancia MeSH
• biologické markery * MeSH
• karcinogeny životního prostředí MeSH

Studies were conducted in northern Bohemia to simultaneously evaluate personal exposures to air pollution in the form of respirable particles containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and biomarkers of exposure, biological effective dose, genetic effects, and metabolic susceptibility. The series of biomarkers included PAH metabolites in urine, urine mutagenicity, PAH-DNA adducts in white blood cells determined by 32P-postlabeling, PAH-albumin adducts determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), DNA damage in lymphocytes detected by comet assay, chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges, and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) genotypes. For these studies, a group of women who work outdoors about 30% of their daily time was selected. In a pilot study, a group of women from a polluted area of the Teplice district (northern Bohemia) was compared with a group of women from a control district of southern Bohemia (Prachatice). In a follow-up repeated-measures study, a group of nonsmoking women from Teplice was sampled repeatedly during the winter season of 1993 to 1994. Personal exposure monitoring for respirable particles (< 2.5 microns) was conducted for the 24-hr period before collection of blood and urine. Particle extracts were analyzed for carcinogenic PAHs. In the pilot study and in the follow-up study, a highly significant correlation between individual personal exposures to PAHs and DNA adducts was found (r = 0.54, p = 0.016; r = 0.710, p < 0.001, respectively). The comet parameter (percentage DNA in tail; %T) correlated with exposures to respirable particles (r = 0.304, p = 0.015). The GSTM1 genotype had a significant effect on urinary PAH metabolites, urine mutagenicity, and comet parameters (% T and tail moment) when the GSTM1 genotype was considered as a single factor affecting these biomarkers. Multifactor analysis o variance considering exposure and adjusting the data for GSTM1, age, and diet showed that the effect of personal exposures to PAHs on the variability of biomarkers (DNA adducts, comet parameters, urine mutagenicity) might be higher than the effect of the GSTM1 genotype. These results show the importance of considering all potential factors that may affect the biomarkers being analyzed.

• MeSH
• adukty DNA MeSH
• biologické markery * MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• glutathiontransferasa genetika   MeSH
• karcinogeny životního prostředí škodlivé účinky   metabolismus   MeSH
• kouření škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mutace MeSH
• následné studie MeSH
• pilotní projekty MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky škodlivé účinky   metabolismus   moč   MeSH
• poškození DNA MeSH
• testy genotoxicity MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adukty DNA MeSH
• biologické markery * MeSH
• glutathiontransferasa MeSH
• karcinogeny životního prostředí MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH