CZECH-UNITED-STATES EPA HEALTH STUDY - ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL AND AMBIENT AIR EXPOSURES TO PAH AND ORGANIC MUTAGENS IN THE TEPLICE DISTRICTOF NORTHERN BOHEMIA
R. Watts et al., CZECH-UNITED-STATES EPA HEALTH STUDY - ASSESSMENT OF PERSONAL AND AMBIENT AIR EXPOSURES TO PAH AND ORGANIC MUTAGENS IN THE TEPLICE DISTRICTOF NORTHERN BOHEMIA, International journal of environmental analytical chemistry, 56(4), 1994, pp. 271-287
For over 40 years the Northern Bohemia area of the Czech Republic has
been characterized by heavy industrialization, open pit mining, and ut
ilization of high sulfur brown coal by industry and in residential hom
e heating. These conditions have resulted in severe environmental poll
ution and concern over evidence of adverse health effects for resident
s in the region. Beginning in August 1991, Czech scientists from the T
eplice District Institute of Hygiene and U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency researchers from die Health Effects Research Laboratory and th
e Atmospheric Research and Exposure Assessment Laboratory cooperated i
n conducting pilot studies in the Teplice District, which is centrally
located in the industrialized area. These studies determined ambient
concentrations and personal exposures to airborne polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organic mutagens. Active personal air samplers
were used in personal exposure studies of coal miners, policemen and
other workers in the Teplice district. Stationary medium-volume (PM10)
and high-volume (PM2.5 and TSP) samplers were also used to collect am
bient air samples. Personal sampler results from 24 h sampling in Janu
ary 1992 of a group of Teplice policemen showed BaP exposures averaged
40 ng/m3. Ambient high-volume (HiVol) air sampling results from 12 h
nighttime samples collected in Teplice between February 17 and March 2
7, 1992 showed particle-associated BaP averaged 12 ng/m3 and ranged fr
om 2-34 ng/m3. The sixteen PAHs that were quantified averaged 131 ng/m
3 for the same time periods. Approximately 50% of the particle-bound P
AH concentrations in Teplice air resulted from compounds that are carc
inogenic in animals. Mutagen concentrations and potency were determine
d by the Ames plate incorporation assay. The mutagenic potency of extr
actable organics from ambient air particles was higher than those for
U.S. residential areas that are heavily impacted by wood smoke but sim
ilar to those from U.S. cities more heavily impacted by vehicle emissi
ons. This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environme
ntal Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of
trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use.