Aim: Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been in the past associated with adverse effects on human health among which belong also respiratory diseases. Our study is focused on the evaluation of PAH exposure by measuring the concentrations of their monohydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAHs) in urine and comparing their concentrations with the incidence of respiratory diseases in 2-year-old children from two locations of the Czech Republic – a control locality Ceske Budejovice and a previously highly contaminated mining district Most. Methods: The total number of 248 participants were sampled for urine samples that were analysed for the presence of 11 OH-PAHs using liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and clean-up employing dispersive solid phase extraction with a sorbent Z-Sep. Separation, identification and quantification of the target compounds was achieved by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The incidence of respiratory diseases was evaluated according to the questionnaires provided by the paediatricians. Results and discussion: The concentrations of measured OH-PAHs were higher in the urine samples collected from 2-year-old children living in Most compared to 2-year-old children from Ceske Budejovice. The same trend was observed also when the urine samples were analysed when these children were studied as newborns in our previous study. From all of the monitored respiratory diseases, only influenza due to unidentified influenza virus showed a difference between tested locations where the 2-year-old children living in Most were more frequently diagnosed with this disease. Conclusion: Even though the air pollution and lifestyle in both cities is very similar, we have observed higher incidence of respiratory diseases as well as higher concentration of OH-PAHs in urine of the 2-year-old children from Most. Therefore, we hypothesize that the population living in this previously highly contaminated location (in 1970s and 1980s) can carry some long-term health burden.

Background and objectives: The impact of prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to birth outcomes as weight, length, head perimeter, placenta weight and Apgar score. Materials and Methods: Two cohorts of children born in the years 2013 and 2014 in Karvina (Northern Moravia, N=144) and Ceske Budejovice (Southern Bohemia, N=198) were studied for the relationship between prenatal exposure to PAHs and growth parameters up to two years of age. PAHs exposure was evaluated according to concentration of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in polluted air and monohydroxylated PAH metabolites (OH-PAHs) in urine of newborns and their mothers. Data on growth parameters were obtained from pediatric questionnaires up to 24 months. Results: Concentrations of B[a]P were significantly higher in Karvina (p<0.001). OH-PAH metabolites were significantly higher in the mother´s as well as in the newborn’ s urine in Karvina. The length was shorter in newborns in Karvina at birth (p<0.001), but this difference was straightened out during next 3 to 24 months. Birth weight at the delivery did not differ between newborns in Karvina and Ceske Budejovice. Newborns in both locations significantly decreased their weight gain between birth and 3 months after delivery. OH-PAHs metabolites in mother’s or newborn’s urine did not affect birth weight. Top 25% values of concentrations of 2-OH-FLUO, 1-OH-NAP, 2-OH-NAP, 1-OH-PHEN, 2-OH-PHEN, 3-OH-PHEN, 4-OH-PHEN and the sum of all-OH-PAHs higher than median in the newborn´s urine decreased their length. 2-OH-PHEN top 25% of concentrations in the newborn´s urine decreased their head perimeter, 2-OH-FLUO, 1-OH-NAP, 2-OH-NAP, 1-OH-PHEN, 2-OH-PHEN, 3-OH-PHEN, 4-OH-PHEN, 9-OH-PHEN, 1-OH-PYR, and all-OH-PAHs decreased placenta weight; 2-OH-FLUO, 1-OH-NAP, 2-OH-NAP, 1-OH-PHEN, 2-OH-PHEN, 3-OH-PHEN, 4-OH-PHEN, and all-OH-PAHs decreased Apgar 5´. Conclusions: We observed that higher concentration of PAHs determined as OH-PAHs metabolites in newborn´s urine decreased their length, head perimeter, placenta weight, and Apgar 5´, but did not affect birth weight.