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.

• Klíčová slova
• 2-year-old toddlers, Influenza, Monohydroxylated PAH metabolites, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Respiratory diseases, Urine,
• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci dýchací soustavy epidemiologie   moč   MeSH
• pilotní projekty MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * moč   MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky   analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * MeSH

More than 85% of the population in Cambodia is strongly dependent on agriculture, of which freshwater aquaculture is one of the most important sources of food production. The smoked fish represents an important source of nutrients for Cambodian population; however, it can also lead to excessive intake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A field survey was conducted among selected smoked fish producers near to Tonle Sap river in Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia. The study revealed that maximal limits for benzo[a]pyrene and the sum of four PAHs given by EC 1881/2006 were exceeded 2-50 times. Such burden can lead to increased risk of development of carcinogenic diseases.

• Klíčová slova
• Cambodia, PAH, Smoked fish, Tonle Sap, aquaculture,
• MeSH
• benzopyren MeSH
• kontaminace potravin analýza   MeSH
• kouř * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky analýza   MeSH
• rybí výrobky analýza   MeSH
• ryby metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• benzopyren MeSH
• kouř * MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants produced during incomplete combustion of organic matter. Humans can be exposed to them via several pathways (inhalation, digestion, dermal exposure). The aim of this study was to assess the concentration of 11 monohydroxylated metabolites of PAHs (OH-PAHs) in 660 urine samples collected from mothers and their newborns residing in two localities of the Czech Republic - Most and Ceske Budejovice - in 2016 and 2017. After enzymatic hydrolysis, the target analytes were extracted from the urine samples using liquid-liquid extraction, with extraction solvent ethyl acetate and a clean-up step using dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) with the Z-Sep sorbent. For identification and quantification, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was applied. 2-OH-NAP was the compound present in all of the measured samples and it was also the compound at the highest concentration in both mothers' and newborns' urine samples (median concentration 5.15 μg/g creatinine and 3.58 μg/g creatinine). The total concentrations of OH-PAHs in urine samples collected from mothers were 2 times higher compared to their children. The most contaminated samples were collected in Most in the period October 2016-March 2017 from both mothers (12.59 μg/g creatinine) and their newborns (8.29 μg/g creatinine). The concentrations of OH-PAHs in urine samples, which were collected from both mothers and their newborns as presented in this study, are comparable with those found in our previous study between 2013 and 2014. In addition, they are slightly lower or comparable to other studies from Poland, USA, Germany, China, and Australia. The results might indicate that the population in the previously highly air-polluted mining districts carries some long-term changes (maybe existing changes in genetic information), which also affect the metabolism of PAHs. It could be related to the long-lasting effect, and thus corresponding to the shortened life expectancy.

• Klíčová slova
• Biomarkers, Biomonitoring, Environment, OH-PAHs, UHPLC–MS/MS,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• matky * MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky analýza   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Austrálie MeSH
• Česká republika MeSH
• Čína MeSH
• Německo MeSH
• Polsko MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has long been known that airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can negatively affect pregnancy and birth outcomes, such as birth weight, fetal development, and placental growth factors. However, similar studies yield divergent results. Our goal was to estimate the amount of monohydroxylated PAH (OH-PAH) metabolites in the urine of pregnant women/mothers and their newborns in relation to birth outcomes, such as placenta weight, Apgar 5', and the growth parameters of children up to the age of two. METHODS: Two cohorts of children born in 2013 and 2014 during the summer and winter seasons in the Czech Republic in the cities Karviná (N = 144) and České Budějovice (N = 198), which differ significantly in the level of air pollution, were studied. PAH exposure was assessed by the concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in the air and the concentration of 11 OH-PAH metabolites in the urine of newborns and mothers. Growth parameters and birth outcomes were obtained from medical questionnaires after birth and from pediatric questionnaires during the following 24 months of the child's life. RESULTS: Concentrations of B[a]P were significantly higher in Karviná (p < 0.001). OH-PAH metabolites were significantly higher in the mothers' as well as in the newborns' urine in Karviná and during the winter season. Neonatal length was shorter in newborns in Karviná (p < 0.001), but this difference evened out during the next 3 to 24 months. Compared to České Budějovice, newborns in Karviná showed significantly lower weight gain between birth and three months after delivery. The OH-PAH metabolites in mothers' or newborns' urine did not affect birth weight. The presence of seven OH-PAH (top 25% of values of concentrations higher than the median) metabolites in the newborns' urine is associated with decreased length of newborn. Nine OH-PAH metabolites decreased placenta weight, which was the most significant, while seven OH-PAH metabolites decreased Apgar 5'. CONCLUSION: We have shown a possible connection between higher concentration of OH-PAH metabolites in newborns' urine and decreased length, head circumference, placenta weight, and Apgar 5', but not birth weight.

• Klíčová slova
• Birth length, Birth weight, Growth parameters, Head circumference, Monohydroxylated PAH metabolites, Placenta weight, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• matky MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• placenta MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * MeSH
• porodní hmotnost MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• zpožděný efekt prenatální expozice * epidemiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• těhotenství MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky * MeSH

Pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) was used in the extraction of three ketones of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the sample of a soil highly contaminated with polycyclic polyaromatic compounds. The choice of solvent was the only factor that considerably influenced the extraction efficiency of PLE under the conditions recommended in Method 3545A promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The dichloromethane-ethanol solvent mixture was found to be the most efficient solvent. PLE using this mixture provided better recoveries of all analysed ketones relative to Soxhlet extraction.

• MeSH
• ketony izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• plynová chromatografie s hmotnostně spektrometrickou detekcí metody   MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky chemie   MeSH
• půda analýza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ketony MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH
• půda MeSH

Toxic effects of many persistent organic pollutants (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls or polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans) are mediated via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives also activate AhR, their toxic effects remain to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we used the in vitro H4IIE-luc transactivation cell assay to investigate cytotoxicity and potencies to activate AhR by 29 individual PAHs and their N-heterocyclic derivatives (aza-PAHs). The aza-PAHs were found to be significantly more cytotoxic and more potent inducers of AhR than their unsubstituted analogues. Several aza-PAHs, such as dibenz[a,h]acridine or dibenz[a,i]acridine, activated AhR within picomolar concentrations, comparable to the effects of reference 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Ellipsoidal volume, molar refractivity, and molecular size were the most important descriptors derived from the modeling of quantitative structure-activity relationships for potencies to activate AhR. Comparable relative toxic potencies (induction equivalency factors) for individual aza-PAHs are derived, and their use for evaluation of complex contaminated samples is discussed.

• MeSH
• biotest MeSH
• heterocyklické sloučeniny chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kvantitativní vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• heterocyklické sloučeniny MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků MeSH

In this study, a novel analytical approach for the determination of 11 monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites (OH-PAHs) in urine was developed and validated. The rapid, simple and high-throughput sample preparation procedure based on ethyl acetate extraction and subsequent purification by dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) employing a Z-Sep sorbent is used for the first time. For the identification/quantification of target compounds, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (U-HPLC) interfaced with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was applied. The results of validation experiments performed on the Standard Reference Material (SRM) 3673 (organic contaminants in non-smokers' urine) were in accordance with the certified values. The method recoveries ranged from 77 to 114 % with the relative standard deviation lower than 20 % and the quantification limits in the range of 0.010-0.025 ng mL(-1) (except for benzo[a]pyren-3-ol with 0.9 ng mL(-1)). Within the pilot study, the new method was used for the analysis of OH-PAHs in 50 urine samples. The concentrations of ΣOH-PAHs were in the range of 0.87-63 ng mL(-1) (1600-33,000 ng g(-1) creatinine), with naphthalen-2-ol (2-OH-NAP) and phenanthren-1-ol (1-OH-PHEN) being the most abundant exposure biomarkers detected in all samples.

• Klíčová slova
• Monohydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, SRM 3673, Tandem mass spectrometry, Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, Urine,
• MeSH
• extrakce na pevné fázi MeSH
• hydroxylace MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky moč   MeSH
• referenční standardy MeSH
• tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie metody   MeSH
• vysokoúčinná kapalinová chromatografie metody   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• validační studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were extracted from 30 samples (24 soils and 6 stream sediments) collected in El-Tabbin area in the southern part of Greater Cairo, Egypt. Isopleth maps of PAHs clarified the regional variability and identified the most affected regions in the area suffering from high pollution. The total PAH concentrations were 53.4-5558.0 ng g(-1) in the sample extracts. The highest values were found in a soil sample near a coke factory, with the highest concentration of single PAHs, which were 1064.8 ng g(-1) of fluoranthene and 1286.4 ng g(-1) of phenanthrene. The calculated ratios and indexes allowed to elucidate origin of the organic compounds and to identify emission sources. The overall molecular patterns are signatures of pyrolysis of fossil fuels and biomass. Petrogenic contamination was recognised in the sediment samples due to petroleum products deliveries from ships. Also perylene was prominent especially in samples of the River Nile sediments as a diagenetic product of fungi. Other detailed information on petrogenic sources was provided by analysis of alkanes and calculation of alkane ratios.

• Klíčová slova
• Contamination, Egypt, El-Tabbin area, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Sediment, Soil,
• MeSH
• biomasa MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu analýza   MeSH
• geologické sedimenty chemie   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky analýza   MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• řeky chemie   MeSH
• znečištění ropou MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Egypt MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH
• půda MeSH

The use of biological indicators of environmental quality is an alternative method of monitoring ecosystem pollution. Various groups of contaminants, including organic ones, can be measured in environmental samples. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have not yet been determined by the moss bag technique. This technique uses several moss species simultaneously in urban areas to select the best biomonitoring of these compounds, which are dangerous to humans and the environment. In this research, a gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used for the determination of selected PAHs in three species of mosses: Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum fallax and Dicranum polysetum (active biomonitoring) and for comparison using an air filter reference method for atmospheric aerosol monitoring. The chlorophyll fluorescence of photosystem II (PSII) was also measured to assess changes in moss viability during the study. As a result of the study, the selective accumulation of selected PAHs by mosses was found, with Pleurozium schreberi being the best bioindicator-9 out of 13 PAHs compounds were determined in this species. The photosynthetic yield of photosystem (II) decreased by 81% during the exposure time. The relationship between PAHs concentrations in mosses and the total suspended particles (TSP) on the filter indicated the possibility of using this bioindicator to trace PAHs in urban areas and to apply the moss bag technique as a method supporting classical instrumental air monitoring.

• Klíčová slova
• bioindicator, moss bag technique, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,
• MeSH
• aerosoly analýza   MeSH
• atmosféra chemie   MeSH
• biologický monitoring * MeSH
• Bryophyta chemie   MeSH
• filtrace MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch analýza   MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky analýza   MeSH
• shluková analýza MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aerosoly MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH

1 Objectives of this study were (1) to compare concentrations of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in air of polluted and nonpolluted area of Czech Republic during winter and summer periods and (2) to verify if urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), as supposed practical biological marker, permits the assessment of spacial and temporal variations in environmental PAH exposure. 2 The study population consisted of three groups: (1) a group of 22 physical exercise students who regularly train outside, from the university situated in a polluted town, spending 14 days in winter and 14 days in summer in 'non-polluted' mountains; (2) a control group of 22 residents from the town and (3) a control group of 18 residents from the mountains. 3 The total PAH concentrations (sum of 13 individual PAH) were 19.3 and 104.6 ng/m3 in town and in mountains, respectively, during summer and 86.6 and 261 ng/m3 during winter. 4 Median 1-OHP levels ranged between 0.03 and 0.13 mumol/mol creatinine for controls and between 0.04 and 0.12 mumol/mol creatinine for students. No relationship was found between pyrene levels in air and group means of urinary 1-OHP. Our results show that other factors (probably PAH in food) contribute in masking air pollution influence on urinary 1-OHP levels in subjects non-occupationally exposed to PAH.

• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí * MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky analýza   moč   MeSH
• pyreny analýza   MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí * MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 1-hydroxypyrene MeSH Prohlížeč
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• polycyklické aromatické uhlovodíky MeSH
• pyreny MeSH