The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal fluctuation of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs levels in the ambient air of Upper Silesia in the aspect of human inhalation exposure as well as the estimation of health risk attributed to this exposure pathway to dioxins and dl-PCBs. In the study air samples were taken in five urban districts of Upper Silesia, Poland, where the houses are heated with coal. The same sampling points in summer and winter were analyzed for dioxins/furans and dl-PCBs. In addition, information was collected on awareness of the residents about the co-incineration of plastic waste and effects of this activity on human health. The results show that the average daily exposure of residents of Upper Silesia to TCDD and DLCs in the heating season was about 6.5.-fold higher than in summer. The risk assessment showed that expected excess of cancer cases per 1,000,000 people ranged from 4.5 to 13.2 in winter and from 0.9 to 2.1 in summer. The practice of mixing waste with coal for houses heating has been confirmed by investigated families, who do not associate it with the possibility of negative health effects. Air pollution can be a significant source of dioxin and dl-PCB for people during the winter season, as a result of co-burning coal and waste containing plastics. The dose of dioxins inhaled through the respiratory pathway in winter can be associated with the higher cancer risk in the population of Upper Silesia.

A region in Poland with a high concentration of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) was used as a case study to look for the potential health consequences of chronic cadmium and lead exposure. The analysis of the incidence of cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms mortality were carried out and the mortality using SDR (standardized death rate) were compared with Cd and Pb pollution in each of 13 cities. To estimate the association between health effect and the pollutant concentration, the linear regression method was used. On the basis of calculated regression, the magnitude of changes in the health state has been estimated assuming that the ambient air pollution decrease is 10%. The reduction of the concentrations of both heavy metals in the air will lower SDR, by 24.4 and 31.6 people for cadmium and lead, respectively.