%0 Journal Article %T The European Hot Spot of B[a]P and PM2.5 Exposure¡ªThe Ostrava Region, Czech Republic: Health Research Results %A Radim J. Sram %A Miroslav Dostal %A Helena Libalova %A Pavel Rossner Jr. %A Andrea Rossnerova %A Vlasta Svecova %A Jan Topinka %A Alena Bartonova %J ISRN Public Health %D 2013 %R 10.1155/2013/416701 %X The Ostrava Region in the Czech Republic is a heavily polluted industrial area. Concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) significantly exceed limit values. To investigate the impact of these levels on human health, epidemiological, molecular epidemiology, and in vitro studies were done in 2008¨C2011. Morbidity of children was followed in 10 pediatric districts. In the most polluted district, children suffered higher incidence of acute respiratory diseases in the first year of life, and higher prevalence of asthma bronchiale. Gene expression was studied in children from Ostrava and from a control rural area. Genes specific to asthma bronchiale differed, suggesting a different molecular phenotype in children in the polluted region compared to children in the control area. A molecular epidemiology study showed adverse effect of the Ostrava exposures, but also an increased expression of XRCC5, which probably protects these exposed subjects against the degree of genetic damage that would otherwise be expected. In vitro studies clearly related concentration of B[a]P from PM2.5 extracts to induced PAH-DNA adducts. These studies clearly demonstrate that under the present local environmental conditions, the health of the population is severely impaired and will likely remain so for a significant period of time. 1. Introduction The Moravian-Silesian Region (MSR) is a heavily populated industrial area situated in the easternmost part of the Czech Republic (CR), covering 5£¿427£¿km2 with 1,25 million inhabitants [1]. The MSR is situated in a basin bordered by mountains from west, east, and partially from south, with frequent temperature inversions in winter. Since the 2nd half of the 18th century, the region is characterized by coal mining, processing of coal, and metallurgy. The MSR administrative structure consists of six districts (from the west: Brunt¨¢l, Opava, Novy Ji£¿¨ªn, Ostrava city, Karvin¨¢, and Frydek-M¨ªstek). The Karvin¨¢ district is one of the most densely populated districts of the Czech Republic (789 inhabitants/km2). The most important current industries are metallurgy, steel, coke ovens, coal mining, and power generation. The population density in the MSR is also associated with high-intensity local vehicular transport and local heating. Almost fifty percent of the inhabitants use central heating, 34% natural gas, 10% coal, 3% electricity, and 3% wood [2]. This paper provides an overview of air pollution levels in the Ostrava Region (OSTR, city of Ostrava and the district of Karvin¨¢) for the period (2002¨C2011), and a summary of findings %U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn.public.health/2013/416701/