| Abstract [eng] |
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of over 100 organic compounds that primarily form during the combustion of organic materials at high temperatures and oxygen-deficient environment. These compounds contain two or more fused benzene rings in a linear, angular or cluster molecular structure. PAHs are broadly found in different environments from water, food, air. The major sources of PAHs in environment include energy production, domestic heating, waste combustion, industrial processes, vehicle emissions, forest fires, oil spils, and others. PAHs are ubiquitous because of their physical-chemical properties. In ambient air, they are partitioned between particulate and vapor phases. This duality causes problems during the evaluation of the human exposure, because of various pathways to environments where humans reside. Because of their carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic properties, 16 PAHs have been included in priority pollutant lists by the European Commission and USA EPA. The dissertation aim is the characterization of PAHs in urban environment throughout their entire life cycle. Several representative and little-researched processes of emissions and urban environments were investigated. From the emission perspective, selected biomass fuels and street dust deposits were researched. Ambient and indoor air of near-street and suburban environments as well as schools and kindergartens were researched for the presence of PAHs. The results contribute to the global database on the formation, transformation, oxidation, penetration, decomposition, and exposure of PAHs. . |
