Using low-cost portable air quality (AQ) monitoring devices is a growing trend in personal exposure studies, enabling a higher spatio-temporal resolution and identifying acute exposure to high concentrations. Comprehension of the results by participants is not guaranteed in exposure studies. However, information on personal exposure is multiplex, which calls for participant involvement in information design to maximise communication output and comprehension. This study describes and proposes a model of a user-centred design (UCD) approach for preparing a final report for participants involved in a multi-sensor personal exposure monitoring study performed in seven cities within the EU Horizon 2020 ICARUS project. Using a combination of human-centred design (HCD), human-information interaction (HII) and design thinking approaches, we iteratively included participants in the framing and design of the final report. User needs were mapped using a survey (n = 82), and feedback on the draft report was obtained from a focus group (n = 5). User requirements were assessed and validated using a post-campaign survey (n = 31). The UCD research was conducted amongst participants in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and the results report was distributed among the participating cities across Europe. The feedback made it clear that the final report was well-received and helped participants better understand the influence of individual behaviours on personal exposure to air pollution.

• Klíčová slova
• air pollution exposure campaign, communication, design thinking, focus group, report to participants, user-centred design,
• MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí analýza   MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší * analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• velkoměsta MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch * MeSH

The aim of this work is to investigate sunflower plants response on stressinduced by silver(I) ions. The sunflower plants were exposed to silver(I) ions (0, 0.1, 0.5,and 1 mM) for 96 h. Primarily we aimed our attention to observation of basic physiologicalparameters. We found that the treated plants embodied growth depression, coloured changes and lack root hairs. Using of autofluorescence of anatomical structures, such aslignified cell walls, it was possible to determine the changes of important shoot and rootstructures, mainly vascular bungles and development of secondary thickening. Thedifferences in vascular bundles organisation, parenchymatic pith development in the rootcentre and the reduction of phloem part of vascular bundles were well observable.Moreover with increasing silver(I) ions concentration the vitality of rhizodermal cellsdeclined; rhizodermal cells early necrosed and were replaced by the cells of exodermis.Further we employed laser induced breakdown spectroscopy for determination of spatialdistribution of silver(I) ions in tissues of the treated plants. The Ag is accumulated mainlyin near-root part of the sample. Moreover basic biochemical indicators of environmentalstress were investigated. The total content of proteins expressively decreased withincreasing silver(I) ions dose and the time of the treatment. As we compare the resultsobtained by protein analysis - the total protein contents in shoot as well as root parts - wecan assume on the transport of the proteins from the roots to shoots. This phenomenon canbe related with the cascade of processes connecting with photosynthesis. The secondbiochemical parameter, which we investigated, was urease activity. If we compared theactivity in treated plants with control, we found out that presence of silver(I) ions markedlyenhanced the activity of urease at all applied doses of this toxic metal. Finally we studiedthe effect of silver(I) ions on activity of urease in in vitro conditions.

• Klíčová slova
• Biochemical marker, Heavy metals, Plant biosensor, Sensors, Silver,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

This paper presents a performance evaluation framework for streetscape vegetation. A performance index (PI) is conceived using the following seven traits, specific to the street environments - Pollution Flux Potential (PFP), Carbon Sequestration Potential (CSP), Thermal Comfort Potential (TCP), Noise Attenuation Potential (NAP), Biomass Energy Potential (BEP), Environmental Stress Tolerance (EST) and Crown Projection Factor (CPF). Its application is demonstrated through a case study using fifteen street vegetation species from the UK, utilising a combination of direct field measurements and inventoried literature data. Our results indicate greater preference to small-to-medium size trees and evergreen shrubs over larger trees for streetscaping. The proposed PI approach can be potentially applied two-fold: one, for evaluation of the performance of the existing street vegetation, facilitating the prospects for further improving them through management strategies and better species selection; two, for planning new streetscapes and multi-functional biomass as part of extending the green urban infrastructure.

• Klíčová slova
• Green infrastructure, Multi-functional, Performance index, Pollution, Streetscape,
• MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• hluk prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• plánování měst metody   MeSH
• rozhodování MeSH
• sekvestrace uhlíku * MeSH
• stromy růst a vývoj   MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Spojené království MeSH

Substantial knowledge is available on the association of the indoor school environment and its effect among schoolchildren. In the same context, the SINPHONIE (School indoor pollution and health: Observatory network in Europe) conducted a study to collect data and determine the distribution of several indoor air pollutants (IAPs), physical and thermal parameters and their association with eye, skin, upper-, lower respiratory and systemic disorder symptoms during the previous three months. Finally, data from 115 schools in 54 European cities from 23 countries were collected and included 5175 schoolchildren using a harmonized and standardized protocol. The association between exposures and the health outcomes were examined using logistic regression models on the environmental stressors assessed in classroom while adjusting for several confounding factors; a VOC (volatile organic compound) score defined as the sum of the number of pollutants to which the children were highly exposed (concentration > median of the distribution) in classroom was also introduced to evaluate the multiexposure - outcome association. Schoolchildren while adjusting for several confounding factors. Schoolchildren exposed to above or equal median concentration of PM2.5, benzene, limonene, ozone and radon were at significantly higher odds of suffering from upper, lower airways, eye and systemic disorders. Increased odds were also observed for any symptom (sick school syndrome) among schoolchildren exposed to concentrations of limonene and ozone above median values. Furthermore, the risks for upper and lower airways and systemic disorders significantly increased with the VOCs score. Results also showed that increased ventilation rate was significantly associated with decreased odds of suffering from eye and skin disorders whereas similar association was observed between temperature and upper airways symptoms. The present study provides evidence that exposure to IAPs in schools is associated with various health problems in children. Further investigations are needed to confirm our findings.

• Klíčová slova
• Allergy, Indoor air pollution, Multi-pollution, Sick building syndrome, Thermal parameters, VOC,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• školy MeSH
• teplota MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší analýza   MeSH
• znečištění vzduchu ve vnitřním prostředí analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH

BACKGROUND: Numerous ubiquitous environmental chemicals are established or suspected neurotoxicants, and infants are exposed to a mixture of these during the critical period of brain maturation. However, evidence for associations with the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is sparse. We investigated early-life chemical exposures in relation to ADHD. METHODS: We used a birth cohort of 2606 Norwegian mother-child pairs enrolled 2002-2009 (HUMIS), and studied a subset of 1199 pairs oversampled for child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Concentrations of 27 persistent organic pollutants (14 polychlorinated biphenyls, 5 organochlorine pesticides, 6 brominated flame retardants, and 2 perfluoroalkyl substances) were measured in breast milk, reflecting the child's early-life exposures. We estimated postnatal exposures in the first 2 years of life using a pharmacokinetic model. Fifty-five children had a clinical diagnosis of ADHD (hyperkinetic disorder) by 2016, at a median age of 13 years. We used elastic net penalized logistic regression models to identify associations while adjusting for co-exposure confounding, and subsequently used multivariable logistic regression models to obtain effect estimates for the selected exposures. RESULTS: Breast milk concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and β‑hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCH) were associated with increased odds of ADHD: odds ratio (OR) = 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.16, 2.72 and OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.53, per interquartile range increase in ln-transformed concentrations, respectively. Stronger associations were observed among girls than boys for PFOS (pinteraction = 0.025). p,p'‑Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT) levels were associated with lower odds of ADHD (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.97). Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) had a non-linear association with ADHD, with increasing risk in the low-level exposure range that switched to a decreasing risk at concentrations above 8 ng/g lipid. Postnatal exposures showed similar results, whereas effect estimates for other chemicals were weaker and imprecise. CONCLUSIONS: In a multi-pollutant analysis of four classes of chemicals, early-life exposure to β-HCH and PFOS was associated with increased risk of ADHD, with suggestion of sex-specific effects for PFOS. The unexpected inverse associations between p,p'-DDT and higher HCB levels and ADHD could be due to live birth bias; alternatively, results may be due to chance findings.

• Klíčová slova
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Contaminants, Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), Environmental chemicals, Hyperkinetic disorder, Neurodevelopment,
• MeSH
• chlorované uhlovodíky analýza   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fluorokarbony analýza   MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery analýza   MeSH
• hyperkinetická porucha epidemiologie   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• kyseliny alkansulfonové analýza   MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mateřské mléko chemie   MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• retardanty hoření analýza   MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Norsko epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chlorované uhlovodíky MeSH
• fluorokarbony MeSH
• halogenované difenylethery MeSH
• kyseliny alkansulfonové MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí MeSH
• perfluorooctane sulfonic acid MeSH Prohlížeč
• retardanty hoření MeSH

Municipal sledge water is a combination of residential wastewater, industrial effluent, and precipitation water. The water quality parameters analyses results demonstrated that most of the parameters (pH: 5.6 ± 0.3, Turbidity: 102.31 ± 2.8 mg L-1, TH: 946.38 ± 3.7 mg L-1, BOD: 295.63 ± 5.4 mg L-1, COD: 482.41 ± 4.9 mg L-1, Ca: 278.74 ± 1.8 mg L-1, SO42-: 559.64 ± 11.4 mg L-1, Cd: 18.56 ± 1.37 mg L-1, Cr: 31.25 ± 1.49 mg L-1, Pb: 21.45 ± 1.12 mg L-1, and Zn: 48.65 ± 1.56 mg L-1) were considerably increased in quantities with slightly acidic in condition. The in-vitro phycoremediation study was carried out for two weeks with pre-identified Scenedesmus sp. Biomass in different groups of treatments (A, B, C, and D). Interestingly, most of the physicochemical parameters were significantly reduced in group C (4 × 103 cells mL-1) treated municipal sludge water in a shorter treatment period than in the other treatment groups. The phycoremediation percentage of group C were found as pH: 32.85%, EC: 52.81%, TDS: 31.32%, TH: 25.58%, BOD: 34.02%, COD: 26.47%, Ni: 58.94%, Ca: 44.75%, K: 42.74%, Mg: 39.52%, Na: 36.55%, Fe: 68%, Cl: 37.03%, SO42-: 16.77%, PO43-: 43.15%, F: 55.55%, Cd:44.88%, Cr:37.21%, Pb:43.8%, and Zn:33.17%. These findings suggest that increased biomass from Scenedesmus sp. can be used to significantly remediate municipal sludge water and that the obtained biomass and treated sludge can be used as feedstock's for bio fuel as well as bio fertilizer, respectively.

• Klíčová slova
• In-vitro, Mechanisms, Municipal sludge water, Phycoremediation, Scenedesmus sp.,
• MeSH
• kadmium analýza   MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí * analýza   MeSH
• odpadní vody MeSH
• olovo MeSH
• Scenedesmus * MeSH
• těžké kovy * analýza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kadmium MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí * MeSH
• odpadní vody MeSH
• olovo MeSH
• těžké kovy * MeSH

AIMS: To identify bacteria with high selenium tolerance and reduction capacity for bioremediation of wastewater and nanoselenium particle production. METHODS AND RESULTS: A bacterial endophyte was isolated from the selenium hyperaccumulator Stanleya pinnata (Brassicaceae) growing on seleniferous soils in Colorado, USA. Based on fatty acid methyl ester analysis and multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) using 16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoB and rpoD genes, the isolate was identified as a subspecies of Pseudomonas moraviensis (97.3% nucleotide identity) and named P. moraviensis stanleyae. The isolate exhibited extreme tolerance to SeO3(2-) (up to 120 mmol l(-1)) and SeO4(2-) (>150 mmol l(-1)). Selenium oxyanion removal from growth medium was measured by microchip capillary electrophoresis (detection limit 95 nmol l(-1) for SeO3(2-) and 13 nmol l(-1) for SeO4(2-)). Within 48 h, P. moraviensis stanleyae aerobically reduced SeO3(2-) to red Se(0) from 10 mmol l(-1) to below the detection limit (removal rate 0.27 mmol h(-1) at 30 °C); anaerobic SeO3(2-) removal was slower. No SeO4(2-) removal was observed. Pseudomonas moraviensis stanleyae stimulated the growth of crop species Brassica juncea by 70% with no significant effect on Se accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: Pseudomonas moraviensis stanleyae can tolerate extreme levels of selenate and selenite and can deplete high levels of selenite under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Pseudomonas moraviensis subsp. stanleyae may be useful for stimulating plant growth and for the treatment of Se-laden wastewater.

• Klíčová slova
• Pseudomonas moraviensis, Stanleya pinnata, aerobic selenite reduction, elemental selenium nanoparticles, microchip capillary electrophoresis, multi-locus sequence analysis,
• MeSH
• aerobióza MeSH
• biodegradace MeSH
• Brassicaceae metabolismus   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• endofyty klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• kyselina seleničitá metabolismus   MeSH
• Pseudomonas klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• selen metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kyselina seleničitá MeSH
• selen MeSH

Atmospheric corrosion poses a significant problem with regard to destruction of various materials, especially metals. Observations made over the past decades suggest that the world's climate is changing. Besides global warming, there are also changes in other parameters. For example, average annual precipitation increased by nearly 10% over the course of the 20th century. In Europe, the most significant change, from the atmospheric corrosion point of view, was an increase in SO₂ pollution in the 1970s through the 1980s and a subsequent decrease in this same industrial air pollution and an increase in other types of air pollution, which created a so-called multi-pollutant atmospheric environment. Exposed metals react to such changes immediately, even if corrosion attack started in high corrosive atmospheres. This paper presents a complex evaluation of the effect of air pollution and other environmental parameters and verification of dose/response equations for conditions in the Czech Republic.

• Klíčová slova
• atmospheric corrosivity, atmospheric test exposure, long-term corrosion rate, structural metals, yearly mass loss,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution, including particulate matter (such as PM10 and PM2·5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), has been linked to increases in mortality. Whether populations' vulnerability to these pollutants has changed over time is unclear, and studies on this topic do not include multicountry analysis. We evaluated whether changes in exposure to air pollutants were associated with changes in mortality effect estimates over time. METHODS: We extracted cause-specific mortality and air pollution data collected between 1995 and 2016 from the Multi-Country Multi-City (MCC) Collaborative Research Network database. We applied a two-stage approach to analyse the short-term effects of NO2, PM10, and PM2·5 on cause-specific mortality using city-specific time series regression analyses and multilevel random-effects meta-analysis. We assessed changes over time using a longitudinal meta-regression with time as a linear fixed term and explored potential sources of heterogeneity and two-pollutant models. FINDINGS: Over 21·6 million cardiovascular and 7·7 million respiratory deaths in 380 cities across 24 countries over the study period were included in the analysis. All three air pollutants showed decreasing concentrations over time. The pooled results suggested no significant temporal change in the effect estimates per unit exposure of PM10, PM2·5, or NO2 and mortality. However, the risk of cardiovascular mortality increased from 0·37% (95% CI -0·05 to 0·80) in 1998 to 0·85% (0·55 to 1·16) in 2012 with a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2·5. Two-pollutant models generally showed similar results to single-pollutant models for PM fractions and indicated temporal differences for NO2. INTERPRETATION: Although air pollution levels decreased during the study period, the effect sizes per unit increase in air pollution concentration have not changed. This observation might be due to the composition, toxicity, and sources of air pollution, as well as other factors, such as socioeconomic determinants or changes in population distribution and susceptibility. FUNDING: None.

• MeSH
• kardiovaskulární nemoci * mortalita   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * škodlivé účinky   analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci dýchací soustavy * mortalita   chemicky indukované   MeSH
• oxid dusičitý * analýza   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• pevné částice * analýza   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• velkoměsta * MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• znečištění ovzduší * škodlivé účinky   analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• velkoměsta * MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch * MeSH
• oxid dusičitý * MeSH
• pevné částice * MeSH

Animal behaviour is remarkably sensitive to disruption by chemical pollution, with widespread implications for ecological and evolutionary processes in contaminated wildlife populations. However, conventional approaches applied to study the impacts of chemical pollutants on wildlife behaviour seldom address the complexity of natural environments in which contamination occurs. The aim of this review is to guide the rapidly developing field of behavioural ecotoxicology towards increased environmental realism, ecological complexity, and mechanistic understanding. We identify research areas in ecology that to date have been largely overlooked within behavioural ecotoxicology but which promise to yield valuable insights, including within- and among-individual variation, social networks and collective behaviour, and multi-stressor interactions. Further, we feature methodological and technological innovations that enable the collection of data on pollutant-induced behavioural changes at an unprecedented resolution and scale in the laboratory and the field. In an era of rapid environmental change, there is an urgent need to advance our understanding of the real-world impacts of chemical pollution on wildlife behaviour. This review therefore provides a roadmap of the major outstanding questions in behavioural ecotoxicology and highlights the need for increased cross-talk with other disciplines in order to find the answers.

• Klíčová slova
• animal, behaviour, contaminant, ecology, ecotoxicology, environmental change, fitness, pollutant, population, wildlife,
• MeSH
• biologická evoluce MeSH
• chování zvířat MeSH
• divoká zvířata * MeSH
• ekotoxikologie * MeSH
• životní prostředí MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH