12. CONCLUSIONS |
Results of the Environmental Health Monitoring System for 2005 are a standard comprehensive data series that has been obtained in the twelfth year of monitoring activities. They provide important background information to both the national authorities involved in health risk control and management and the general public interested in active health protection. These comprehensive data indicative of environmental pollution levels and population health in the Czech Republic are also an information source for other countries worldwide taking part in commercial and cultural exchange.
The most significant health risk from urban air pollution is related to traffic emissions: suspended particulate matter PM10 (in 2005 as many as 81 % of the monitored population were potentially exposed to PM10 levels above the limit), nitrogen dioxide (35 % of the monitored population exposed to higher than limit levels), benzo[a]pyrene (the target limit has been exceeded on a long-term basis at most measuring stations) and benzene. Toxic metals in urban air have been detected at low levels, with the exception of heavily polluted areas, and do not pose any significant health risk.
The estimated population cancer risk from selected outdoor air pollutants considered as carcinogens was nearly 7 incremental cancer cases per 3.32 million population in the monitored cities in 2005. Lifetime (70-year) exposure to the pollutant levels observed in 2005 would result in 481 incremental cancer cases. Benzo[a]pyrene is the major contributor to the risk.
The quality of drinking water from public water systems remained without significant changes in 2002–2005. For 800 thousand values recorded in 2005, the limits of water quality indicators with health significance were exceeded in 0.3 % of instances. The most significant health risk is posed to the population of the Czech Republic supplied from public water systems by nitrates whose levels reach 6 % of the exposure limit for a daily consumption of 1 litre of drinking water. Chloroform levels slightly exceeded 1 % of the exposure limit.
Drinking water consumption may theoretically have contributed to incremental cancer risk in the Czech Republic by two incremental cancer cases.
Chronic exposure to chemicals from food for an average person did not exceed the exposure limits, which can be rather considered as a positive result. Intake of some essential elements such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper and iron remained insufficient.
Detection of GM raw materials, more precisely of Roundup Ready Soya in soya beans and soya products, was about as frequent as in previous years. The MON 810 transgene was detected for the first time in corn flour.
Concentrations of contaminants and beneficial substances in biological material obtained in newly monitored localities in the Czech Republic are consistent with those reported in 1994–2003. Improved selenium saturation for the adult population and downward trend in the burden of chlorinated organic compounds (polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT, hexachlorobenzene) were confirmed.
After several years of stagnation, the mean life expectancy in the Czech Republic increased again in both men and women. Ranking among the most advanced postcommunist countries in this regard, the Czech Republic has an about three year shorter life expectancy compared to the EU15 countries.
It is not possible to determine any safe concentration or exposure limit for mutagenic and carcinogenic substances in view of their no-threshold effects; only socially allowable health risks can be established. Although justly suspected, negative health effects have not been either known or proved for a number of chemicals. Therefore, it is crucial to reduce the population exposure to these chemicals or keep it as low as reasonably possible.
To apply the strategy of reducing the environmental pollution burden where most needed, systematic monitoring of hazardous environmental pollutants and their health effects and monitoring- based health risk estimates are to be conducted. Environmental health monitoring will be helpful in reducing pollutant exposure levels and improving health parameters so as to become comparable with those in the other EU countries and compatible with sustainability of life.