SVIBOR - Project code: 3-01-131

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Strossmayerov trg 4, HR - 10000 ZAGREB
tel.: +385 1 459 44 44, fax: +385 1 459 44 69
E-mail: ured@znanost.hr

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Project code: 3-01-131


ASSESSMENT OF TOTAL HUMAN EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS


Main researcher: ŠARIĆ, MARKO (46073)



Assistants
Type of research: applied
Duration from: 01/01/91. to 12/31/94.

Papers on project (total): 77
Papers on project quoted in Current Contents: 15
Institution name: Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb (22)
Department/Institute: Dep. of Environmental Hygiene; Lab. of the Physiology of Mineral Metabolism; Lab. of Organic Analytical Chemistry; Lab. of Bioch emistry; Clinical-toxicological Lab.; Dept. of Radiat. Protect.
Address: Ksaverska c. 2
City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia
Communication
Phone: 385 (0) 1 434 188
Phone: 385 (0) 1 273 132
Fax: 385 (0) 1 274 572
E-mail: ZFROBE@MIMI.IMI.HR
E-mail: MBLANUSA.@MIMI.IMI.HR

Summary: Concentrations of chlorophenols, organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in samples of rain and snow, in particles isolated from these media, and in different surface, ground and drinking waters collected in the Zagreb's urban and suburban areas, show that the exposure to those persistent compounds should not be neglected. The types and levels of chlorophenols in urine samples of general population are comparable with those measured in population samples from developed countries. The analyses of drinking water in Zagreb showed the presence of trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene in water samples, but also a marked difference between compared subareas. Based on measurement of different indoor air pollutants in a number of microenvironments, exposure was calculated for four population groups in Zagreb: pupils, students, employees, retired people, and integrated exposure model was developed. Levels of lead and cadmium in different environmental media as well as the total human exposure to these metals were studied in a lead smeltery area and compared with Zagreb area. The intake of essential elements was also studied as well as the relationship between calcium intake by food and human lead metabolism. The content of lead, cadmium and mercury in samples of fish from the Adriatic as well as different fish cans, of selenium in fish, human serum and plasma and of toxic metals in soil and coniferous needles was analyzed. Based on the results of the studies on contamination of food chain with 90Sr and 137Cs effective annual dose for children and adult population of Croatia was assessed. Using data obtained from studies performed earlier, risk assessment for specific exposures (manganese and formaldehyde) was done. In areas with asbestos processing plant and plant producing asbestos-cement products the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal organs cancer was studied in populations living at different distances from the contamination source.

Keywords: Exposure modelling, Direct measurement, Total exposure, Risk assessment, Metals, Organochlorine compounds, Gaseous irritants, Polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons, Radionuclides, Asbestos

Research goals: Exposure assessment based on traditional environmental pollution monitoring, concerned primarily with the source of the pollutants and their transport through the environment, provided little information about how much of a pollutant actually comes in contact with people. It has been realized that it is necessary to examine the whole sequence of events from where a pollutant is emitted to how it affects the environment and humans. Directly measuring human exposure is an essential element in accurate risk assessment. In 1986 WHO/UNEP developed an international project named: Human Exposure Assessment Locations (HEALs) which concentrates on assessing total human exposure to different pollutants in various countries. Due to the studies carried out earlier the Institute joined from the very beginning HEALs project, and took part in the pilot phase of the programme connected with the total human exposure assessment to heavy metals - lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd); organic chemicals - hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and 1,1,1 - trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT); and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). After the completion of this phase of the HEALs project, a separate research project was developed. The objectives of this project are to provide comparable assessments of human exposures to environmental pollutants and to identify trends; to improve, test, coordinate and demonstrate methods for human exposure monitoring and modelling; to promote human exposure assessment as a basis for environmental control strategies to protect human health and to improve exposure monitoring capabilities. The cooperation within the HEALs project was continued.


COOPERATION - PROJECTS


  1. Name of project: 3-01-138 Metali u čovjekovoj okolini i nihov utjecaj na zdravlje
    Name of institution: Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia

  2. Name of project: 3-01-132 Pesticidi: mehanizam djelovanja i distribucija u biosferi
    Name of institution: Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia

  3. Name of project: 3-01-135 Onečišćenje vanjske i unutarnje atmosfere i zdravstveni učinci
    Name of institution: Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia

  4. Name of project: 3-01-134 Ionizacijsko i neionizacijsko zračenje i životna okolina
    Name of institution: Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada
    City: 10000 - Zagreb, Croatia


COOPERATION - INSTITUTIONS


  1. Name of institution: World Health Organization
    Type of institution: State administration
    Type of cooperation: Joint project
    City: Geneve, Švicarska

  2. Name of institution: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Joint project
    City: Washington D.C., SAD

  3. Name of institution: Karolinska Institute, Institute of Environmental Medicine
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Joint project
    City: Stockholm, Švedska

  4. Name of institution: Swedish National Food Administration
    Type of institution: University/Faculty
    Type of cooperation: Joint project
    City: Uppsala, Švedska

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Last update: 09/27/95
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