The aim of this study was to determine the influence of traffic density on air pollutant levels as well as to analyse the spatial and temporal distribution of particulate pollutants and their health ...risk. The following species related to traffic pollution were measured: PM
10
, elemental and organic carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM
10
and gas pollutants (SO
2
, NO
2
and CO). The measurements were carried out at four crossroad sites in the city. Samples of PM
10
were collected over three periods (6 am to 2 pm, 2 pm to 10 pm and 10 pm to 6 am) on working days and weekends. Statistically significant differences were found between sampling sites for all pollutant concentrations, except for NO
2
. The highest mass concentrations of PM
10
, carbon and PAHs were observed in the south of the city with the highest traffic density. Concentrations of gasses (CO and NO
2
) showed high values in morning and in the late afternoon and evening (west and east). At all measuring sites, the highest concentration of particle-bound pollutants was mostly recorded during morning and afternoon, except at the south, where elevated PAHs concentrations were recorded during night period, which indicated that residential heating takes up a portion of pollution sources in this area. Although for most of the pollutants the concentrations varied during the day, statistically significant differences between sampling periods were not found. The highest health risk was obtained at the south, where it was scored as significant.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are bound to particulate matter can have adverse effects on human health. Particle size plays an important role in assessing health risks. The aim of this ...study was to compare concentrations of PAHs bound to particle fractions PM
, PM
, and PM₁, as well as to estimate their carcinogenic potency and relative contributions of the individual PAHs to the carcinogenic potency in relation to the size of the particle. Measurements of ten PAHs were carried out in 2014 at an urban location in the northern part of Zagreb, Croatia. 24-h samples of the PM
, PM
, and PM₁ particle fraction were collected over forty days per season. Carcinogenic potency of PAHs was estimated by calculating benzo(a)pyrene equivalent concentrations while using three different toxic equivalence factor (TEF) schemes. The total carcinogenic potency (TCP) and percentage contributions differed significantly depending on the TEF scheme used. The lowest PAH mass concentrations and TCPs were in summer and the highest in winter. The contributions of individual PAHs to the sum of PAH mass concentrations remained similar in all fractions and seasons, while in fractions PM
and PM
they varied significantly. Road traffic represented the important source of PAHs in all fractions and throughout all seasons. Other sources (wood and biomass burning, petroleum combustion) were also present, especially during winter as a consequence of household heating. The highest contribution to the TCP came from benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(ah)antrachene, indeno(1,2,3,cd)pyrene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene (together between 87% and 96%) in all fractions and seasons. In all cases, BaP showed the highest contribution to the TCP regardless relatively low contributions to the mass of total PAHs and it can be considered as a good representative for assessing the carcinogenicity of the PAH mixture. When comparing the TCP of PAHs in PM
and PM
fractions, it was found that about 21⁻26% of carcinogenic potency of the PAH mixture belonged to the PM
fraction. Comparison of TCP in PM
and PM₁ showed that about 86% of carcinogenic potency belonged to the PM₁ fraction, regardless of the TEF scheme used.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds known for their adverse effects on human health. Many of them are proven carcinogens, especially those with 5 and 6 aromatic rings, which under ...normal tropospheric conditions are found in the particle-phase. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is often measured as their general representative. Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is among the European cities with the poorest air quality. However, in Sarajevo PAHs are neither routinely measured within the air quality monitoring network nor have been a subject of extended, continuous field studies during the most polluted cold periods of the year. The capital of Croatia, Zagreb, is located approximately 300 km air distance north-west from Sarajevo. PAH mass concentrations in Zagreb have been measured continuously since 1994 within air quality monitoring networks. During winter 2017/2018, the SAFICA project (Sarajevo Canton Winter Field Campaign 2018) was carried out in order to characterize the chemical composition of organic and inorganic aerosol in the Sarajevo Canton. This paper presents the results of PAH measurements in the cities of Sarajevo and Zagreb at one urban location per city. Daily (24 h), continuous samples of PM10 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm) were collected during heating season, from December 27, 2017 to February 27, 2018. Mass concentrations of eleven particle-phase PAHs in Sarajevo and Zagreb from filter samples collected during the same period were compared. The average BaP ambient mass concentrations in Sarajevo and Zagreb were 6.93 ng m−3 and 3.11 ng m−3, respectively. The contribution of BaP to the total PAH mass concentration was similar at both locations (11%). However, much higher contributions of particle-phase fluoranthene and pyrene were found in Sarajevo. Contributions of individual PAH, diagnostic ratios and factor analysis indicate that combustion of gasoline and diesel from vehicle traffic are a potential source of PAHs at both locations, as well as combustion of other liquid fossil fuels (petroleum and fuel oil). Wood burning was occasionally indicated as a PAH emission source in Zagreb, while in Sarajevo the contribution of PAHs from wood and coal combustion was more evident. Calculated value for total carcinogenic potency (TCP) of PAHs, which was estimated using toxic equivalence factors from the literature, in PM10 samples collected in Sarajevo was more than twice higher than in Zagreb (10.6 ng m−3 and 4.7 ng m−3, respectively). BaP had the highest contribution to the TCP at both locations (69 and 67%).
Display omitted
•11 particle-phase PAHs in Sarajevo, B&H and Zagreb, Croatia were analyzed.•The first study of PAHs in PM10 for continuous two-month winter period in Sarajevo•Traffic and heating were identified as a potential PAH sources at both locations.•The contribution of PAHs from wood and coal combustion was more evident in Sarajevo.•PAH carcinogenic potency in Sarajevo was found to be among the highest in Europe.
The presence of selected polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-28, -47, -99, -100, -153, -154, and -183) was investigated in human milk samples collected from first-time mothers living in Zagreb, ...capital of Croatia. Samples from 2020 and 2010 were analyzed, and the first temporal comparison between the profiles and levels of these compounds in this area was obtained. A statistically significant difference between mass fractions depending on the sampling year was observed only for BDE-99, with values in 2020 higher than in 2010. BDE-153, whose median value (0.25 and 0.26 ng g
−1
lipid weight (l.w.) in 2010 and 2020, respectively) did not decrease in the 10-year period, was the most frequently detected congener in samples from both years. ΣPBDEs ranged from < LOD to 3.53 ng g
−1
l.w. (median 0.25 ng g
−1
l.w.), and from 0.14 to 6.75 ng g
−1
l.w. (median 0.55 ng g
−1
l.w.) in 2010 and 2020, respectively. Maternal age and reported fish consumption had no effect on observed PBDE mass fractions, while for BDE-153, positive significant correlation (
p
> 0.05) was observed of its detected mass fraction with mother’s body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy and after childbirth. Infants median estimated daily intake (EDI) via milk ingestion for ΣPBDE was higher in 2020 (3.221 ng kg
−1
bw day
−1
) compared to 2010 (1.429 ng kg
−1
bw day
−1
), but both values were well below threshold value, indicating that human milk consumption in this specific case is unlikely to raise health risks to infants.
The aim of this study was to determine the mass fraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil of the Labin city area (west Croatia) as a consequence of the pollution caused by ...centuries old Raša coal mining and associated metal processing and foundry industries. Samples of topsoil down to 10-cm depth, following the removal of plant cover, were collected, air-dried, and sieved to <2 mm. Afterwards, they were extracted, and PAH levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography using a fluorescence detector with a varying wavelength of excitation and emission (HPLC/FLD). The results showed substantially elevated levels of PAHs across the study area. The soil pollution with PAHs increased in the direction towards the Raša Bay, where a former coal separation unit was in operation decades ago. The results demonstrated the presence of pyrolitic PAHs that resulted from Raša coal combustion at high temperatures in power plants, and unburnt coal-derived PAHs formed by Raša coal carbonization. This paper for the first time reports levels of PAHs in soil of the Labin city area, establishing them as higher than the values set by Croatian legislation. Therefore, this study clearly calls for immediate clean-up measures in order to solve the environmental pollution issue of the vulnerable local karst area.
Compounds that contribute to indoor pollution are regularly investigated due to the fact that people spend most of their time indoors. Worldwide investigations have shown that polycyclic aromatic ...hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present in indoor dust, but to the best of our knowledge, this paper reports for the first time the presence of PAHs in Croatian households. Eleven PAHs were analysed in house dust samples collected in the city of Zagreb and surroundings (N = 66). Their possible indoor sources and the associated health risks were assessed. Total mass fraction of detected PAHs ranged from 92.9 ng g
to 1504.1 ng g
(median 466.8 ng g
), whereby four-ring compounds, Flu and Pyr, contributed the most. DahA was the only compound that did not show statistically significantly positive correlation with other analysed PAHs, indicating that it originated from different sources. Based on diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA), mixed sources contributed to PAHs levels present in Croatian households. Although our results indicate that Croatian house dusts are weakly polluted with PAHs, total ILCR values calculated for children and adults revealed that people exposed to the highest mass fractions of PAHs measured in this area are at elevated cancer risk.
Air pollution is recognized as one of the most serious public health issues worldwide and was declared to be a leading environmental cause of cancer deaths. At the same time, the cytokinesis-block ...micronucleus (CBMN) assay serves as a cancer predictive method that is extensively used in human biomonitoring for populations exposed to environmental contamination. The objective of this cross-sectional study is two-fold: to evaluate genomic instability in a sample (N = 130) of healthy, general population residents from Zagreb (Croatia), chronically exposed to different levels of air pollution, and to relate them to air pollution levels in the period from 2011 to 2015. Measured frequencies of CBMN assay parameters were in agreement with the baseline data for the general population of Croatia. Air pollution exposure was based on four factors obtained from a factor analysis of all exposure data obtained for the examined period. Based on the statistical results, we did not observe a significant positive association between any of the CBMN assay parameters tested and measured air pollution parameters for designated time windows, except for benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) that showed significant negative association. Our results show that measured air pollution parameters are largely below the regulatory limits, except for BaP, and as such, they do not affect CBMN assay parameters' frequency. Nevertheless, as air pollution is identified as a major health threat, it is necessary to conduct prospective studies investigating the effect of air pollution on genome integrity and human health.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered priority pollutants due to their distribution, persistence, bioaccumulation, and adverse effects on human health. The aim of this study was to ...obtain the first insight into PAHs mass concentrations bound to airborne particulate matter (PM) in the mid Adriatic coast area of Croatia, and compare them with the PAH levels in Croatia’s urban central area. Relatively low values of PAH mass concentrations were measured in the coastal area, compared to the continental urban region of Croatia impacted by increased emissions due to intensive traffic, industry, and residential heating. A high PM10 contribution of four-ring PAHs (Flu and Pyr) at Martinska site indicated that wood burning heating as well as open fire events, including waste incineration, could be important emission sources of PAHs in the mid Adriatic coast region.
Policiklički aromatski ugljikovodici (PAU) zbog rasprostranjenosti, postojanosti, bioakumulacije i štetnih utjecaja na zdravlje ljudi te biljnog i životinjskog svijeta smatraju se prioritetnim onečišćujućim tvarima. Cilj istraživanja je po prvi put dobiti uvid u masene koncentracije specifičnih PAU-a u lebdećim česticama u zraku priobalnog područja srednjeg Jadrana te napraviti usporedbu s razinama PAU-a urbanog područja središnje Hrvatske. Koncentracije PAU-a u priobalnom području bile su relativno niske u odnosu na koncentracije u urbanoj središnjoj Hrvatskoj, gdje se i očekuju njihove povišene emisije uslijed
znatno jačeg intenziteta prometa, industrije te izgaranja biomase uslijed loženja u kućanstvima. Veća zastupljenost PAU-a četirima aromatskim prstenovima (Flu i Pyr) u ukupnoj masi PM10 čestica na mjernoj postaji Martinska upućuju na to da izgaranje drvne biomase uslijed grijanja kućanstava te uslijed požara otvorenog tipa mogu biti važan izvor PAU-a na obalnom dijelu srednjeg Jadrana.
Inhalation of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bound to particulate matter can have adverse effects on human health. Particle size plays an important role in assessing health ...risks. The aim of this study was to compare concentrations of PAHs in different particle fractions. Measurements of PAHs were carried out in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia (~ 790,000 inhabitants). The measuring station was located in the northern, residential part of Zagreb, close to a street with modest traffic density. Twenty-four-hour samples of PM
10
, PM
2.5
and PM
1
particle fraction were collected on quartz filters using a low-volume sampler from about 50 m
3
of air. Three fractions were collected from January to December 2013. The analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fluorescence detector and time-programmed changes in excitation and emission. Comparison of PAH content in PM
10
and PM
2.5
particle fractions revealed that more than 80% of PAHs measured in winter were bound to the smaller particle fraction (PM
2.5
), except for Chry, IP and DahA. In summer, more than 60% of measured PAHs were bound to PM
2.5
particles, except for DahA, while in spring, more than 50% of measured PAHs were bound to PM
2.5
particles, except for Flu, BaP and BbF. Furthermore, comparing PAH content in PM
1
and PM
2.5
fractions, we found that most PAHs were bound to particle fraction PM
1
, and the percentage of PAHs in PM
1
was the highest in winter (more than 90%). Factor analysis showed that most of the PAHs bound to PM
10
, PM
2.5
and PM
1
probably had identical sources in winter, spring and summer (house heating and traffic), and the only significant difference in origin was found in autumn for PAHs bound to PM
2.5
and PM
1
fractions.
Breastfeeding provides numerous health benefits for both infants and mothers, promoting optimal growth and development while offering protection against various illnesses and diseases. This study ...investigated the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in human milk sampled in Zadar (Croatia). The primary objectives were twofold: firstly, to evaluate the individual impact of each compound on the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) value, and secondly, to assess associated health risks. Notably, this study presents pioneering and preliminary insights into PAH levels in Croatian human milk, contributing to the limited research on PAH in breast milk worldwide. PCB and OCP levels in Croatian human milk were found to be relatively lower compared to worldwide data. Conversely, PAH levels were comparatively higher, albeit with lower detection frequencies. A negative correlation was established between organic contaminant levels and antioxidative capacity, suggesting a potential link between higher antioxidative potential and lower organic contaminant levels. Diagnostic ratio pointed towards traffic emissions as the primary source of the detected PAH. The presence of PAH suggests potential health risk, underscoring the need for further in-depth investigation.
Display omitted
•The first data on PAH levels and TAC in Croatian human milk•Croatian human milk shows lower PCB and OCP levels than global data.•8 out of 1000 infants may face a cancer risk due to exposure to PAH.•Traffic emissions identified as main PAH source through diagnostic ratio.•Negative correlation found between organic contaminants and antioxidative capacity
PDF
