Humans are continuously exposed to complex mixtures of anthropogenic chemicals. This thesis focus on human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs). POPs ability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify together with the extensive historical use of POPs in e.g. agriculture and industry have resulted in detection of these compounds in humans and animals from all over the world. Adverse health effects caused by POPs are of particular concern for newborns and young individuals. The objective of this thesis is to assess human exposure to a selected set of POPs and their metabolites. More specifically, one aim of my thesis is to determine the exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and in particular their methylsulfonyl and hydroxylated metabolites in humans from a “hot-spot” area of PCB contamination in eastern Slovakia. The maternal transfer of these chemicals is studied. Further, another specific aim is to determine occurrence, levels and, when possible, temporal trends of POPs in children and adults from three developing countries, Nicaragua, Guinea-Bissau and Bangladesh. High concentrations of PCBs and their metabolites are shown in men and women from Michalovce in eastern Slovakia. Placental transfer of methylsulfonyl-metabolites of PCBs and 4,4’-DDE was observed for the first time. Decreasing temporal trends of the majority of POPs are shown in serum from a cohort of policemen from Guinea-Bissau. In contrast, the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) show an increasing time trend. Within five years, decreasing levels of POPs were also shown in children working and living at a waste disposal site in Nicaragua. Children working and living at waste disposal sites in Bangladesh have considerably lower levels of POPs compared to the children from Nicaragua except for 4,4’-DDT and 4,4’-DDE that are present at very high concentrations, indicating ongoing use of technical DDT. There are many studies on levels and trends of environmental pollutants from the developed industrial countries in the world, whereas data from developing countries is still scarce. This thesis contributes to partly fill this data gap since it includes assessments of POPs in children and adults from four countries on four continents. / At the time of doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 5: Manuscript. Paper 6: Manuscript.

Sport Airport complex Brno-Medlánky is nestled in the undulating hilly terrain in fields just beyond populated areas in Brno-Medlánky. The history of the airport dates back to 1924 when it was built the first wooden hangar for training purposes glider flights. Current state urban of airport is orderless. The aim is to streamline the complex and give it the order, allowing easy and efficient orientation in the space. The main intervention was the creation of a new central building - Aviation Museum. The concept of the design is based on the division of the whole area into two branches - communication axes, based on the mass preserved historic wooden hangars. Between the two communication arms is inserted a central axis on which is located the heart of the complex - Aviation Museum. It is a building organic form, inspiring axially symmetric wingspan (bird, airplane, beetle). It is this symmetry axis of the building creates a view towards building on the runway. Mass of the building used by the sloping terrain and is partially sunk under the ground. Building volume follows an upward slope from the outside and blends with the surrounding terrain. The internal layout consists of three floors, one of them is completely sunk below ground level and second half. The main entrance to the gallery is located in the uppermost floors, the direction of the exhibition is therefore directed downwards into the basement. The exposition is divided into six parts: RC models exposure, gliders exposure, powered aircraft exposure, screening room, children's exposure and air trainers. Other areas consist of building technical facilities. In the basement there is a workshop with aircraft lift, with the possibility of placement unexposed aircrafts. The supporting system of the building consists of two parts: reinforced concrete tubs and arched steel structure with a span of 50m.