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Povzetek: This study analysed urinary mercury (U-Hg) concentrations in 1412 Slovenian children across four human biomonitoring campaigns conducted between 2007 and 2024. Median U-Hg levels declined from 0.76 ng mL−1 (0.72 µg g−1 creatinine) in the 2007 PHIME cohort to 0.22 ng mL−1 (0.21 µg g−1 creatinine) in the 2018–2024 SLO-HBM-II cohort, paralleling a decrease in the prevalence (from 65 to 3%) and the average number of dental amalgam fillings in children. Multilevel mixed-effects models showed a consistent temporal decline in U-Hg that persisted after adjustment for demographic and environmental covariates. In contrast, the inclusion of the amalgam number substantially attenuated the time trend, indicating that reduced amalgam use likely contributed to the observed decrease. As amalgam prevalence fell, other sources of exposure, such as fish consumption, became relatively more prominent predictors of U-Hg, while children living in historically Hg-contaminated areas showed persistently higher levels. Although Slovenia had already phased down dental amalgam in children before ratifying the Minamata Convention, these long-term biomonitoring data illustrate how changes in exposure sources are reflected in internal Hg levels. The study demonstrates the value of repeated national HBM programmes for identifying dominant exposure pathways, investigating their evolution over time, and providing evidence relevant to effectiveness-evaluation frameworks under Article 22 of the Minamata Convention.
Ključne besede: concentrations in blood
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 10.02.2026; Ogledov: 376; Prenosov: 65
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Povzetek: Bike commuters are regularly exposed to environmental stressors that impact their health and well-being. The Urban Cycling Lab in Ljubljana, developed within an Urban Living Lab and citizen science framework, engaged stakeholders in assessing exposure to particulate matter and noise, and in co-creating strategies to reduce it. This citizen science intervention combined sensor-enhanced ICT tools with behaviour change theory to assess both environmental and behavioural aspects of exposure. Exposure assessment included low-cost personal sensors as well as chemical analysis in biological samples to evaluate environmental exposure, while biochemical analysis of biological samples aimed to evaluate potential biological effects of exposure. Participants collected data using portable sensors and accessed real-time exposure comparisons via the Route Exposure Comparator web app. Biological samples (peripheral blood and spot urine) were collected from each participant at the end of data collection period. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, commuting habits, and environmental health literacy were collected via questionnaires. Ethnographic methods captured participants’ perceptions, route choices, and the intervention’s influence on commuting behaviour. This paper presents the methodology used to implement this intervention and provides a transferable model for participatory environmental exposure assessment. 1. Designed and implemented a citizen science intervention to assess cyclists’ exposure to air pollution and noise using sensor-enhanced ICT tools. 2. Promoted environmentally informed route choices through behaviour change strategies and digital feedback. 3. Applied survey and ethnographic methods to explore commuting behaviours and intervention impact.
Ključne besede: personal sensors, environmental exposure assessment
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 03.12.2025; Ogledov: 659; Prenosov: 145
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Povzetek: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is poorly understood, with causes identified in only 25% of cases. Emerging evidence suggests links between trace elements (TEs) and POI. This study is the first to compare concentrations of manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) across urine, serum, and whole blood in women with POI compared to healthy controls (HC), aiming to explore their distribution and potential associations with POI. This cross-sectional-case-control study enrolled 81 participants (40 POI patients and 41 healthy controls) at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia. Blood and urine samples were collected to quantify basic biochemical parameters using standard clinical chemistry methods and concentrations of Mn, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Participants also completed questionnaires on socio-demographics, medical history, lifestyle, and nutrition. Data was analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test, Student's t-tests, Fisher exact test, logistic regression models adjusted on body mass index (BMI), age, hematocrit, and Kendall's tau correlation. Women with POI had significantly higher BMI and red blood cell (RBC) indices, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red cell distribution width (RDW), compared to controls. A larger proportion of POI patients resided in rural agricultural areas. Liver and kidney function assessments showed no significant differences between the groups. Adjusted models revealed that POI patients had significantly lower urinary levels of Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Cd, Hg, and Pb than controls, while whole blood Mn levels were higher. Serum Cu levels were significantly elevated in POI patients, whereas Pb, Cd, and Hg were lower. No significant differences were observed for As. Correlation analysis showed several strong to moderate associations among TEs across biofluids, but only weak correlations were found between TEs and demographic or biochemical factors. This study suggests potential associations between TEs and POI in women. Notably, most TEs (Zn, Se, Cu, Mo, Cd, Hg, Pb) were significantly lower in the urine of the POI group, while Cu, Cd, Hg, and Pb showed significant differences in both urine and serum.
Ključne besede: premature ovarian insufciency, essential, non-essential trace elements, biofuids, reproductive health
Objavljeno v DiRROS: 12.11.2025; Ogledov: 369; Prenosov: 163
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