This study investigates the potential relationship between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), specifically monohydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAHs), in urine, and the prevalence of respiratory diseases in 2-year-old children residing in two locations within the Czech Republic - České Budějovice (control location) and the historically contaminated mining district of Most. Despite current air quality and lifestyle similarities between the two cities, our research aims to uncover potential long-term health effects, building upon previous data indicating distinctive patterns in the Most population. A total of 248 urine samples were analysed for the presence of 11 OH-PAHs. Employing liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and clean-up through dispersive solid-phase extraction, instrumental analysis was conducted using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The incidence of respiratory diseases was assessed through questionnaires administered by paediatricians. The concentrations of OH-PAHs were elevated in urine samples from 2-year-olds in Most compared to those from České Budějovice. The incidence of respiratory diseases showed statistically significant higher levels of OH-PAHs in children from Most, together with a higher incidence of influenza. This association underlines the impact of environmental PAH exposure on children's respiratory health. It suggests that elevated urinary OH-PAH levels indicate an increased risk of developing respiratory diseases in the affected population. Further studies are needed to clarify the possible long-term health effects and to contribute to sound public health strategies.

• Keywords
• 2-year-old toddlers, Influenza, Monohydroxylated PAH metabolites, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Respiratory diseases, Urine,
• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Respiratory Tract Diseases epidemiology   urine   MeSH
• Pilot Projects MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons * urine   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Environmental Exposure adverse effects   analysis   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons * MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The menopausal transition is accompanied by transient symptoms that have been linked to subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD); CVD has also been linked to air pollution. Physical activity (PA) reduces CVD, improves body composition, and can reduce menopausal symptoms. The purpose of this study was to assess the links between PA and menopausal symptoms and whether obesity, fitness, and air pollution status play a role in this relationship. METHODS: Women (40-60 y; N = 243; mean [SD] age, 47.8 [5.6] y) from areas with high versus low air pollution enrolled in the Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment Program 4 prospective cohort study completed psychological, cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, and menopausal status screening followed by a 14-day prospective assessment of menopausal symptoms (Menopause Rating Scale) using a mobile application. Daily PA was assessed objectively across 14 days via Fitbit Charge 3 monitor. General linear mixed models were conducted and controlled for age, menopausal status, day in the study, wear time, and neuroticism. RESULTS: Peri/postmenopausal women ( β = 0.43, P < 0.001) and those residing in a high-air-pollution environment ( β = 0.45, P < 0.05) reported more somatovegetative symptoms. Hot flashes alone were associated with peri/postmenopausal status ( β = 0.45, P < 0.001), and for women residing in a high-air-pollution environment, lower reporting of hot flashes was observed on days when a woman was more physically active than usual ( β = -0.15, P < 0.001). No associations were found for cardiorespiratory fitness and visceral fat with any of the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: PA may enhance resilience to hot flashes, especially when residing in high-air-pollution environments where we also observed higher reporting of somatovegetative menopausal symptoms.

• MeSH
• Exercise MeSH
• Cardiovascular Diseases * MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Menopause psychology   MeSH
• Hot Flashes psychology   MeSH
• Obesity MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Air Pollution * adverse effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

DNA methylation is the most studied epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression, and it can serve as a useful biomarker of prior environmental exposure and future health outcomes. This study focused on DNA methylation profiles in a human cohort, comprising 125 nonsmoking city policemen (sampled twice), living and working in three localities (Prague, Ostrava and Ceske Budejovice) of the Czech Republic, who spent the majority of their working time outdoors. The main characterization of the localities, differing by major sources of air pollution, was defined by the stationary air pollution monitoring of PM2.5, B[a]P and NO2. DNA methylation was analyzed by a genome-wide microarray method. No season-specific DNA methylation pattern was discovered; however, we identified 13,643 differentially methylated CpG loci (DML) for a comparison between the Prague and Ostrava groups. The most significant DML was cg10123377 (log2FC = -1.92, p = 8.30 × 10-4) and loci annotated to RPTOR (total 20 CpG loci). We also found two hypomethylated loci annotated to the DNA repair gene XRCC5. Groups of DML annotated to the same gene were linked to diabetes mellitus (KCNQ1), respiratory diseases (PTPRN2), the dopaminergic system of the brain and neurodegenerative diseases (NR4A2). The most significant possibly affected pathway was Axon guidance, with 86 potentially deregulated genes near DML. The cluster of gene sets that could be affected by DNA methylation in the Ostrava groups mainly includes the neuronal functions and biological processes of cell junctions and adhesion assembly. The study demonstrates that the differences in the type of air pollution between localities can affect a unique change in DNA methylation profiles across the human genome.

• Keywords
• DNA methylation, air pollution, environment, epigenetics, molecular epidemiology,
• MeSH
• Genome-Wide Association Study MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Air Pollutants adverse effects   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• DNA Methylation drug effects   MeSH
• Police * MeSH
• Environmental Exposure adverse effects   MeSH
• Air Pollution adverse effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Air Pollutants MeSH

Far too little attention has been paid to health effects of air pollution and physical (in)activity on musculoskeletal health. The purpose of the Healthy aging in industrial environment study (4HAIE) is to investigate the potential impact of physical activity in highly polluted air on musculoskeletal health. A total of 1500 active runners and inactive controls aged 18-65 will be recruited. The sample will be recruited using quota sampling based on location (the most air-polluted region in EU and a control region), age, sex, and activity status. Participants will complete online questionnaires and undergo a two-day baseline laboratory assessment, including biomechanical, physiological, psychological testing, and magnetic resonance imaging. Throughout one-year, physical activity data will be collected through Fitbit monitors, along with data regarding the incidence of injuries, air pollution, psychological factors, and behavior collected through a custom developed mobile application. Herein, we introduce a biomechanical and musculoskeletal protocol to investigate musculoskeletal and neuro-mechanical health in this 4HAIE cohort, including a design for controlling for physiological and psychological injury factors. In the current ongoing project, we hypothesize that there will be interactions of environmental, biomechanical, physiological, and psychosocial variables and that these interactions will cause musculoskeletal diseases/protection.

• Keywords
• ACL, MRI, achilles tendon, ankle, cartilage, environment, knee, running, walking cutting,
• MeSH
• Running * MeSH
• Biomechanical Phenomena MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Clinical Protocols MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Healthy Aging * MeSH
• Air Pollution * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Adolescent MeSH
• Young Adult MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

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.

• Keywords
• DNA adducts, PAHs, PM2.5, SO2, air pollution, mortality, neurobehavioral changes, pregnancy outcome, sperm abnormalities,
• MeSH
• Air Pollutants * analysis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Particulate Matter analysis   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Health MeSH
• Air Pollution * analysis   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Europe MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Air Pollutants * MeSH
• Particulate Matter MeSH

Three classes of DNA damage were assessed in human placentas collected (2000-2004) from 51 women living in the Teplice region of the Czech Republic, a mining area considered to have some of the worst environmental pollution in Europe in the 1980s. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts were localized and semiquantified using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the Automated Cellular Imaging System (ACIS). More generalized DNA damage was measured both by (32)P-postlabeling and by abasic (AB) site analysis. Placenta stained with antiserum elicited against DNA modified with 7β,8α-dihydroxy-9α,10α-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-benzo[a]pyrene (BPDE) revealed PAH-DNA adduct localization in nuclei of the cytotrophoblast (CT) cells and syncytiotrophoblast (ST) knots lining the chorionic villi. The highest levels of DNA damage, 49-312 PAH-DNA adducts/10(8) nucleotides, were found by IHC/ACIS in 14 immediately fixed placenta samples. An additional 37 placenta samples were stored frozen before fixation and embedding, and because PAH-DNA adducts were largely undetectable in these samples, freezing was implicated in the loss of IHC signal. The same placentas (n = 37) contained 1.7-8.6 stable/bulky DNA adducts/10(8) nucleotides and 0.6-47.2 AB sites/10(5) nucleotides. For all methods, there was no correlation among types of DNA damage and no difference in extent of DNA damage between smokers and nonsmokers. Therefore, the data show that DNA from placentas obtained in Teplice contained multiple types of DNA damage, which likely arose from various environmental exposures. In addition, PAH-DNA adducts were present at high concentrations in the CT cells and ST knots of the chorionic villi.

• MeSH
• DNA Adducts toxicity   MeSH
• Immune Sera MeSH
• Immunohistochemistry MeSH
• Keratinocytes drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Smoking adverse effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons toxicity   MeSH
• DNA Damage * drug effects   MeSH
• In Vitro Techniques MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Pregnancy MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA Adducts MeSH
• Immune Sera MeSH
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-DNA adduct MeSH Browser
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons MeSH

OBJECTIVES: To compare the morbidity of 66 Roma and 466 non-Roma children born and living in a diffused type of habitation in the district of Teplice. METHODS: For each child, a complete list of illnesses that pediatricians recorded using ICD-10 codes for all physician visits and/or hospitalizations was obtained. RESULTS: At the age 0-2 years the Roma/non-Roma rate ratios (RR) of the incidence of influenza (RR 1.6), otitis media (RR 2.3), intestinal infectious diseases (RR 1.7) and viral illnesses (RR 6.3) were statistically associated with ethnicity. The higher incidence of bronchitis (RR 1.7) and pneumonia (RR 2.2) in the Roma children was associated with the low education of mothers and not with ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: At the age of 0-2 years the incidence of influenza, otitis media, intestinal infectious diseases and of viral diseases was significantly higher in Roma than in non-Roma children and was not associated with education of mothers. There was no increase in the morbidity of Roma children over the non-Roma children at the age of 2-6 years. The prevalence of allergies in Roma children was extremely low.

• MeSH
• Health Status Disparities * MeSH
• Child MeSH
• Incidence MeSH
• Communicable Diseases epidemiology   MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Follow-Up Studies MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Roma * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Child MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Comparative Study MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH

Political and economical transition in the Central and Eastern Europe at the end of eighties significantly influenced all aspects of life as well as technological infrastructure. Collapse of outdated energy demanding industry and adoption of environmental legislation resulted in seeming improvements of urban environmental quality. Hand in hand with modernization the newly adopted regulations also helped to phase out low quality coal frequently used for domestic heating. However, at the same time, the number of vehicles registered in the city increased. The two processes interestingly acted as parallel but antagonistic forces. To interpret the trends in urban air quality of Prague, Czech capital, monthly averages of PM(10), SO(2), NO(2), NO, O(3) and CO concentrations from the national network of automated monitoring stations were analyzed together with long term trends in fuel consumption and number of vehicles registered in Prague within a period of 1992-2005. The results showed that concentrations of SO(2) (a pollutant strongly related to fossil fuel burning) dropped significantly during the period of concern. Similarly NO(X) and PM(10) concentrations decreased significantly in the first half of the nineties (as a result of solid fuel use drop), but remained rather stable or increased after 2000, presumably reflecting rapid increase of traffic density. In conclusion, infrastructural changes in early nineties had a strong positive effect on Prague air quality namely in the first half of the period studied, nevertheless, the current trend in concentrations of automotive exhaust related pollutants (such as PM(10), NO(X)) needs adoption of stricter measures.

• MeSH
• Air Pollutants analysis   MeSH
• Environmental Monitoring methods   MeSH
• Nitrogen Dioxide analysis   MeSH
• Nitric Oxide analysis   MeSH
• Sulfur Dioxide analysis   MeSH
• Carbon Monoxide analysis   MeSH
• Ozone analysis   MeSH
• Particulate Matter analysis   MeSH
• Vehicle Emissions analysis   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Air Pollutants MeSH
• Nitrogen Dioxide MeSH
• Nitric Oxide MeSH
• Sulfur Dioxide MeSH
• Carbon Monoxide MeSH
• Ozone MeSH
• Particulate Matter MeSH
• Vehicle Emissions MeSH

BACKGROUND: Few studies of air pollutants address morbidity in preschool children. In this study we evaluated bronchitis in children from two Czech districts: Teplice, with high ambient air pollution, and Prachatice, characterized by lower exposures. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to examine rates of lower respiratory illnesses in preschool children in relation to ambient particles and hydrocarbons. METHODS: Air monitoring for particulate matter < 2.5 microm in diameter (PM(2.5)) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was conducted daily, every third day, or every sixth day. Children born May 1994 through December 1998 were followed to 3 or 4.5 years of age to ascertain illness diagnoses. Mothers completed questionnaires at birth and at follow-up regarding demographic, lifestyle, reproductive, and home environmental factors. Longitudinal multivariate repeated-measures analysis was used to quantify rate ratios for bronchitis and for total lower respiratory illnesses in 1,133 children. RESULTS: After adjustment for season, temperature, and other covariates, bronchitis rates increased with rising pollutant concentrations. Below 2 years of age, increments in 30-day averages of 100 ng/m(3) PAHs and of 25 microg/m(3) PM(2.5) resulted in rate ratios (RRs) for bronchitis of 1.29 [95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.07-1.54] and 1.30 (95% CI, 1.08-1.58), respectively; from 2 to 4.5 years of age, these RRs were 1.56 (95% CI, 1.22-2.00) and 1.23 (95% CI, 0.94-1.62), respectively. CONCLUSION: Ambient PAHs and fine particles were associated with early-life susceptibility to bronchitis. Associations were stronger for longer pollutant-averaging periods and, among children > 2 years of age, for PAHs compared with fine particles. Preschool-age children may be particularly vulnerable to air pollution-induced illnesses.

• Keywords
• PAHs, PM2.5, air pollution, bronchitis, children’s health, infant, particulate matter, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, respiratory illness, volatile organic compounds,
• MeSH
• Bronchiolitis epidemiology   MeSH
• Bronchitis epidemiology   MeSH
• Cohort Studies MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Air Pollutants toxicity   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Pneumonia epidemiology   MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons toxicity   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Retrospective Studies MeSH
• Risk MeSH
• Seasons MeSH
• Environmental Exposure adverse effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Air Pollutants MeSH
• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons MeSH

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate how indoor pollution from tobacco and home heating may adversely affect respiratory health in young children. DESIGN: A birth cohort was followed longitudinally for 3 years to determine incidence of lower respiratory illness (LRI). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 452 children born 1994-1996 in two districts in the Czech Republic participated. EVALUATIONS: Indoor combustion exposures were home heating and cooking fuel, mother's smoking during pregnancy, and other adult smokers in the household. Diagnoses of LRI (primarily acute bronchitis) from birth to 3 years of age were abstracted from pediatric records. Questionnaires completed at delivery and at 3-year follow-up provided covariate information. LRI incidence rates were modeled with generalized linear models adjusting for repeated measures and for numerous potential confounders. RESULTS: LRI diagnoses occurred more frequently in children from homes heated by coal [vs. other energy sources or distant furnaces ; rate ratio (RR) = 1.45 ; 95% confidence interval (CI) , 1.07-1.97]. Maternal prenatal smoking and other adult smokers also increased LRI rates (respectively: RR = 1.48 ; 95% CI, 1.10-2.01 ; and RR = 1.29 ; 95% CI, 1.01-1.65) . Cooking fuels (primarily electricity, natural gas, or propane) were not associated with LRI incidence. For children never breast-fed, coal home heating and mother's smoking conferred substantially greater risks: RR = 2.77 (95% CI, 1.45-5.27) and RR = 2.52 (95% CI, 1.31-4.85) , respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal smoking and coal home heating increased risk for LRI in the first 3 years of life, particularly in children not breast-fed. RELEVANCE: Few studies have described effects of coal heating fuel on children's health in a Western country. Breast-feeding may attenuate adverse effects of prenatal and childhood exposures to combustion products.

• MeSH
• Housing * MeSH
• Infant MeSH
• Smoking adverse effects   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Respiration Disorders chemically induced   epidemiology   MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Coal * MeSH
• Heating adverse effects   MeSH
• Tobacco Smoke Pollution statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Air Pollution, Indoor statistics & numerical data   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Infant MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Infant, Newborn MeSH
• Child, Preschool MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Coal * MeSH
• Tobacco Smoke Pollution MeSH