Publications by authors named "Petr Senk"

Vehicles are unique indoor environments, with interiors dominated by plastic/synthetic materials and exposure to extremes of temperature and radiation, leading to substantial potential for emissions of plastic additives from vehicle materials and subsequent exposure to drivers and passengers. Flame retardants (FRs) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were measured in 30 dust samples collected from dashboards, seats, and trunks of cars of the same make and model (year of manufacture 1996-2021) to evaluate levels in dust and time patterns in additive use across cars of different ages. PFAS were detected in all dust samples at low levels, while FRs were detected in all samples, with some compounds consistently exceeding µg/g levels, especially tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), substantially higher than in other indoor environments.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - This study explores the levels and geographical differences of contaminants found in house dust across Europe, identifying over 1200 anthropogenic compounds using advanced techniques like mass spectrometry and suspect screening.
  • - The research indicates that contaminant concentrations vary less than threefold within Europe, showing similarities with North American dust due to shared consumer products and materials.
  • - It highlights geographical patterns, revealing that certain contaminants increased from north to south (like PAHs and chlorinated paraffins), whereas others, like biocides, decreased; it also emphasizes a significant risk from older, restricted contaminants, like DEHP and PCBs, despite limited toxicity data available for newer compounds.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study investigates the efficacy of supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) in extracting a diverse spectrum of organic contaminants from indoor dust. Initially, seven distinct SUPRAS were assessed across nine categories of contaminants to identify the most effective one. A SUPRAS comprising Milli-Q water, tetrahydrofuran, and hexanol in a 70:20:10 ratio, respectively, demonstrated the best extraction performance and was employed for testing a wider array of organic contaminants.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Children in agricultural areas are exposed to organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid (PYR) insecticides. This explorative study investigated child exposure to OPs and PYRs, comparing temporal and spatial exposure variability within and among urine, wristbands, and dust samples.

Methods: During spraying season 2018, 38 South African children in two agricultural areas (Grabouw/Hex River Valley) and settings (farm/village) participated in a seven-day study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Risk assessment of pesticide impacts on remote ecosystems makes use of model-estimated degradation in air. Recent studies suggest these degradation rates to be overestimated, questioning current pesticide regulation. Here, we investigated the concentrations of 76 pesticides in Europe at 29 rural, coastal, mountain, and polar sites during the agricultural application season.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to characterise exposure to pyrethroids, organophosphates, and tebuconazole through multiple pathways in 110 parent-child pairs participating in the CELSPAC-SPECIMEn study.

Methods: First, we estimated the daily intake (EDI) of pesticides based on measured urinary metabolites. Second, we compared EDI with estimated pesticide intake from food.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Firefighting is one of the most hazardous occupations due to exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Such exposure is suspected to affect the cardiometabolic profile, e.g.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The CELSPAC - FIREexpo biomonitoring study investigates the long-term effects of chemical exposure on firefighters' wellness and fitness. It aims to provide science-based measures to minimize the health risks of the firefighting occupation. Here, we present the study design, cohort profile, and first results with respect to internal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) levels in study participants.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Current-use pesticide (CUP) exposure occurs mainly through diet and environmental application in both agricultural and urban settings. While pesticide exposure has been associated with many adverse health outcomes, the intermediary molecular mechanisms are still not completely elucidated. Among others, their roles in epigenetics (DNA methylation) and DNA damage due to oxidative stress are presumed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Over the last decades, concern has arisen worldwide about the negative impacts of pesticides on the environment and human health. Exposure via dust ingestion is important for many chemicals but poorly characterized for pesticides, particularly in Africa. We investigated the spatial and temporal variations of 30 pesticides in dust and estimated the human exposure via dust ingestion, which was compared to inhalation and soil ingestion.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Current-use pesticides (CUP) are extensively applied in both agricultural and urban settings. Exposure occurs mainly via the dietary pathway; however, other pathways such as inhalation or skin contact are also important. In this study, urinary levels of 12 CUP metabolites were investigated among 110 parent-child pairs during two seasons of 2020.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Concerns about the possible negative impacts of current use pesticides (CUPs) for both the environment and human health have increased worldwide. However, the knowledge on the occurrence of CUPs in soil and air and the related human exposure in Africa is limited. This study investigated the presence of 30 CUPs in soil and air at two distinct agricultural sites in South Africa and estimated the human exposure and related risks to rural residents via soil ingestion and inhalation (using hazard quotients, hazard index and relative potency factors).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Clinical analyses always represent a challenge for the sensitivity and selectivity of the analytical techniques. Of the most critical are the techniques required for the quick determination of the disease state and application of the proper treatment in newborns. This short critical review overviews the present state of the art of the use of mass spectrometry and capillary electrophoresis for screening of metabolic disorders in newborns.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF