Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have been associated with environmental pollutants. The scope of this study is to assess any potential relation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), their hydroxylated derivatives, and trace elements with heart failure via their direct determination in human serum of Greek citizens residing in different areas. Therefore, we analyzed 131 samples including cases (heart failure patients) and controls (healthy donors), and the respective demographic data were collected. Significantly higher concentrations (p < 0.05) were observed in cases’ serum regarding most of the examined PAHs and their derivatives with phenanthrene, fluorene, and fluoranthene being the most abundant (median of >50 μg L⁻¹). Among the examined trace elements, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Pb were measured at statistically higher concentrations (p < 0.05) in cases’ samples, with only Cr being significantly higher in controls. The potential impact of environmental factors such as smoking and area of residence has been evaluated. Specific PAHs and trace elements could be possibly related with heart failure development. Atmospheric degradation and smoking habit appeared to have a significant impact on the analytes’ serum concentrations. PCA–logistic regression analysis could possibly reveal common mechanisms among the analytes enhancing the hypothesis that they may pose a significant risk for CVD development.

Background: Thriassion Plain is considered the most industrialized area in Greece and thus a place where emissions of pollutants are expected to be elevated, leading to the degradation of air quality. Methods: Simultaneous determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was performed in PM10 samples. SPSS statistical package was employed for statistical analysis and source apportionment purposes. Cancer risk was estimated from total persistent organic pollutants’ (POPs) dataset according to the available literature. Results: POPs concentrations in particulate matter were measured in similar levels compared to other studies in Greece and worldwide, with mean concentrations of ΣPAHs, ΣPCDD/Fs, dioxin like PCBs, and indicator PCBs being 7.07 ng m⁻³, 479 fg m⁻³, 1634 fg m⁻³, and 18.1 pg m⁻³, respectively. Seasonal variations were observed only for PAHS with higher concentrations during cold period. MDRs, D/F ratios, and principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted combustions as the main source of POPs’ emissions. Estimation of particles’ carcinogenic and mutagenic potential indicates the increased toxicity of PM10 during cold periods, and cancer risk assessment concludes that 3 to 4 people out of 100,000 may suffer from cancer due to POPs’ inhalation. Conclusions: Increased cancer risk for citizens leads to the necessity of chronic POPs’ monitoring in Thriassion Plain, and such strategies have to be a priority for Greek environmental authorities.

This study investigates the atmospheric concentrations, spatiotemporal distribution, the associated health risks and the ozone formation potential of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) across 33 monitoring sites of Greece over a one-year period. Samples were collected using passive diffusive samplers and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The highest BTEX concentrations were detected during winter and autumn, particularly in urban and industrial areas such as in the Attica and Thessaloniki regions, likely due to enhanced emissions from combustion-related activities and reduced atmospheric dispersion. Health risk assessment revealed that hazard quotient (HQ) values for all compounds were within the acceptable limits. However, lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) for benzene exceeded the recommended limits in multiple regions during the colder seasons, indicating notable public health concern. Source apportionment using diagnostic ratios suggested varying seasonal emission sources, with vehicular emissions prevailing in winter and marine or industrial emissions in summer. Xylenes and toluene exhibited the highest ozone formation potential (OFP), underscoring their role in secondary pollutant formation. These findings demonstrate the need for seasonally adaptive air quality strategies, especially in Mediterranean urban and semi-urban environments.