Scientific papers:

  1. Macan M, Sulimanec A, Kovačić J, Keser I, McNulty B, Nugent A, Babić Ž, Pavlić M, Sokolić D, Tomac P, Košćec Bjelajac A, Varnai VM. Design and Reproducibility of Food Propensity Questionnaire for Characterizing Intake of Pyrethroid and Organophosphate Insecticides in Adolescents. Children. 2026;13(3):320. https://doi.org/10.3390/children13030320
  2. Sulimanec A, Macan M, Kovačić, J Breige McNulty B, Nugent A, Pavlić M, Sokolić D, Garvey J, Jurič A, Keser I, Matek Sarić M, Murray B, Babić Ž, Varnai VM. Dietary Exposure Assessment to Pesticides in Croatian School-Children—The Methodology of the Zagreb Region Total Diet Study. Expo Health 2025; 17, 55–80. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-024-00646-4
  3. Tomac P, Košćec Bjelajac A, Hromatko I, Varnai VM. Effects of exposure to insecticides on sleep and neurobehavioural functioning in puberty and adolescence: a scoping review. Arh. Hig. Rada Toksikol. 2025;76(3):159-182. https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2025-76-4020
  4. Sulimanec A, Kovačić J, Macan M, Pavlić M, Keser I, Varnai, VM. How can simple household procedures reduce exposure to pesticides from fruits and vegetables: current habits and recommendations. Arh. Hig. Rada Toksikol. 2025;76(2):124-128. https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2025-76-3984

Conference abstracts:

  1. Košćec Bjelajac A, Tomac P, Bošković S, Šakić F, Delale EA, Sulimanec A. Odnos izloženosti ekranima prije spavanja s karakteristikama spavanja i mentalnim zdravljem dječaka na početku puberteta. Zbornik sažetaka 4. KOKOSS konferencije “Digitalno dobа і оblici skrbi u različitim kontekstima”. Šibenik: Hrvatska komora edukacijskih rehabilitatora; Hrvatska psihološka komora; Hrvatska komora psihoterapeuta; Hrvatska komora socijalnih pedagoga; Hrvatska komora socijalnih radnika, 2026. str. 170. https://kokoss.hr/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/KOKOSS-knjigasazetaka-2026-1.pdf
  2. Gustovarac A, Jurič A, Macan M, Kovačić J, Babić Ž, Varnai VM. Monitoring pyrethroid metabolites in school children – preliminary data from the PyrOPECh project. Abstracts of the 7th International Congress of the Croatian Society of Toxicology, CROTOX 2025; Rab, Croatia 2025. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2025:76 (Suppl1):106. https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/clanak/486378
  3. Jurič A, Tariba Lovaković B, Gustovarac A, Macan M, Kovačić J, Varnai VM. Development of a method for determining organophosphate and pyrethroid metabolites in urine: preliminary results. Abstracts of the 49th FEBS Congress; Istanbul, Turkey 2025. FEBS Open Bio 2025;15:328. https://febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2211-5463.70071
  4. Kovačić J, Macan M, Jurič A, Gustovarac A, Sulimanec A, Pavlić M, Mcnulty B, Nugent A, Garvey J, Varnai VM. Dietary exposure to pyrethroid insecticides in Croatian adolescents. Abstracts of the 7th International Congress of the Croatian Society of Toxicology, CROTOX 2025, Rab, Croatia 2025. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2025:76(Suppl 1):105. https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/clanak/486378
  5. Macan M, Kovačić J, Jurič A, Gustovarac A, Kralik Oguić S, Sulimanec A, Pavlić M, Sokolić D, Garvey J, Varnai VM.  Association of dietary exposure to pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides with gonadotropins, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in primary school boys. Abstracts of the 7th International Congress of the Croatian Society of Toxicology, CROTOX 2025; Rab, Croatia 2025. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2025:76(Suppl 1):41. https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/clanak/486378
  6. Sulimanec A, Macan M, Jurič A, Gustovarac A, Garvey J, Kovačić J, Varnai VM. From market to table: fungicide residues in total diet samples in the Zagreb region. Abstracts of the 7th International Congress of the Croatian Society of Toxicology, CROTOX 2025; Rab, Croatia 2025. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2025: 76(Suppl 1):40. https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/clanak/486378
  7. Sulimanec A, Kovačić J, Macan M, Tomac P, Šakić F, Keser I, Jergović M, Krnić B, Musil V, Petričević Vidović T, Posavec M, Varnai VM. Body mass index and puberty onset in Croatian boys. 11th International Congress of Food Technologists, Biotechnologists and Nutritionists; Zagreb, Croatia 2025. Book of Abstracts p. 134. https://pbn2025congress.pbf.hr/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Book-of-Abstracts-of-the-11th-International-Congress-of-Food-Technologists-Biotechnologists-and-Nutritionists.pdf
  8. Tomac P, Košćec Bjelajac A, Delale EA, Macan M, Kovačić J, Gjergja Juraški R, Varnai VM. Effects of dietary exposure to insecticides’ residues on sleep and sleepiness in pubescent boys: preliminary findings from the first wave of the PyrOPECh study. 27. Bujasovi dani psihologije: Book of Abstracts. Zagreb: Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, 2025. p. 165. https://repozitorij.ffzg.unizg.hr/en/object/ffzg:13397
  9. Tomac P, Košćec Bjelajac A, Hromatko I, Varnai VM. Neuropsychology, toxicology, and human development: neurobehavioral effects of insecticide exposure during puberty and adolescence. Abstracts of the 7th International Congress of the Croatian Society of Toxicology, Rab, Croatia 2025. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2025;76(Suppl. 1):43. https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/clanak/486378
  10. Macan M, Garvey J, Jurič A, Sulimanec A, Kovačić J, Varnai VM. Pesticide residues in food of animal origin sampled in the Total Diet Study – Zagreb region – preliminary results. EPRW2024 – 15th European Pesticide Residue Workshop; Zürich, Switzerland 2024. Book of Abstracts p. 220–1. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/prilog-skup/724290
  11. Košćec Bjelajac A, Tomac P, Radošević-Vidaček B, Varnai VM. Generational changes in sleep of pubescent boys on a weekly rotating morning and afternoon school schedule. Abstracts of the 27th Conference of the European Sleep Research Society; Seville, Spain 2024. J Sleep Res 2024;33(Suppl 1):571. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsr.14291
  12. Košćec Bjelajac A, Tomac P, Delale EA, Macan M, Petričević Vidović T, Posavec M, Šamal MM, Babić Ž, Varnai VM. Indirektna uloga kronotipa u internaliziranim i eksternaliziranim teškoćama kod dječaka u pubertetu. XXIV. dani psihologije u Zadru; Zadar, Croatia 2024. Book of Abstracts p. 215. https://psihologija.unizd.hr/Portals/12/XXIV%20Dani%20psihologije%20u%20Zadru%20-%20KNJIGA%20SA%C5%BDETAKA.pdf?ver=u2GJwY0FTLGpKZ7ngDiWbA%3D%3D
  13. Tomac P, Košćec Bjelajac A, Macan M, Delale EA, Gjergja Juraški R, Babić Ž, Varnai VM. On-and-off sleep restriction: Impact of rotating school schedules on sleep and cognitive functioning in pubescent boys. Abstracts of the 27th Conference of the European Sleep Research Society; Seville, Spain 2024. J Sleep Res 2024;33(S1):574. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsr.14291
  14. Tomac P, Košćec Bjelajac A, Macan M, Delale EA, Šamal MM, Kralik Oguić S, Krnić B, Musil V, Babić Ž, Varnai VM. Pubertalni status i kronotip: učinak kronotipa na izvedbu u testu usmjerene pažnje kod dječaka u pubertetu. XXIV. dani psihologije u Zadru; Zadar, Croatia 2024. Book of Abstracts p. 150. https://psihologija.unizd.hr/Portals/12/XXIV%20Dani%20psihologije%20u%20Zadru%20-%20KNJIGA%20SA%C5%BDETAKA.pdf?ver=u2GJwY0FTLGpKZ7ngDiWbA%3D%3D
  15. Macan M, Jurič A, Sulimanec A, Garvey J, Varnai VM. Insecticide residues in food samples from the Total Diet Study – Zagreb region: preliminary results. Abstracts of the International Symposium on Environmental and Molecular Toxicology of Chemicals ToxChem2023; Zagreb, Croatia 2023. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2023:74(4):A72. https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/311434
  16. Tomac P, Košćec Bjelajac A, Bobić J, Macan J, Kovačić J, Varnai VM. Spavanje i neuropsihološko funkcioniranje u kontekstu kronične izloženosti niskim razinama neurotoksičnih insekticida tijekom puberteta: metodologija istraživanja. 26. Dani Ramira i Zorana Bujasa: međunarodni psihologijski znanstveni skup; Zagreb, Croatia 2023. Book of Abstracts p. 147. https://repozitorij.ffzg.unizg.hr/object/ffzg:9763
  17. Tomac P, Košćec Bjelajac A, Delale EA, Macan M, Šamal MMm, Gjergja Juraški R, Varnai VM. Učinak organizacije nastave na karakteristike spavanja i neurobihevioralno funkcioniranje dječaka u pubertetu. 4th International Scientific Conferenceof the University Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Croatia – Changing Life Circumstances: Opportunity for Individual and Community Growth. Zagreb, Croatia 2023. Book of Abstracts p. 130. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/prilog-skup/810851
  18. Varnai VM, Bjelajac A, Macan J, Kovačić J, Cvijetić Avdagić S, Babić Ž, Tomac P, Macan M. PyrOPECh project – risk assessment for adverse effects of dietary pesticide exposure on neuropsychological and sexual development in pubertal boys. Abstracts of the International Symposium on Environmental and Molecular Toxicology of Chemicals ToxChem2023; Zagreb, Croatia 2023. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2023:74(4):A71. https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/311434
  19. Kovačić J, Macan M, Garvey J, Jurič A, Sulimanec Grgec A, Sabolić I, Macan J, Murray B, Varnai VM. Dietary exposure to organophosphate insecticides in Croatian adolescents – preliminary results of the Zagreb region Total Diet Study. 14th European Pesticide Residue Workshop; Bologna, Italy 2022. Book of Abstracts p. 247-8. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/prilog-skup/724292
  20. Macan M, Garvey J, Martin P, Jurič A, Sulimanec A, Babić Ž, Kovačić J, Varnai VM. Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables sampled in the Total Diet Study − Zagreb region − preliminary results. 14th European Pesticide Residue Workshop; Bologna, Italy 2022. Book of Abstracts p. 58. https://www.croris.hr/crosbi/publikacija/prilog-skup/724290
  21. Sulimanec Grgec A, Orct T, Kljaković-Gašpić Z, Tičina V, Varnai VM, Piasek M, Jurasović J. Element levels in muscle tissue and body length of European hake from the Adriatic Sea. SAAS22 1. simpozij analitičke atomske spektrometrije (SAAS22); Zagreb, Croatia 2022. Book of Abstracts p. 43. https://saas.hkd.hr/1SAAS-Book_of_Abstracts.pdf
  22. Varnai VM, Macan M, Jurič A, Sulimanec Grgec A, Kovačić J, Murray B, Garvey J. Exposure to pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides in Croatian population − preliminary results. 4th Croatian Food Safety Risk Assessment Conference with International Participation and the Celebration of World Food Safety Day; Osijek, Croatia 2022. Book of Abstracts p. 57-8. https://www.hapih.hr/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Zbornik-sazetaka-4.-hrvatska-konferencija-o-procjeni-rizika-porijeklom-iz-hrane.pdf

Dissertations and theses:

  1. Macan M. Association of pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticide exposure via food with pubertal development and hormonal status in boys. Ph.D. thesis. University of Zagreb, School of Medicine; 2026.
  2. Županić J. Assessment of hormonal status in boys by determination of gonadotropins in urine and testosterone in saliva. Master’s thesis. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry; 2025. https://repozitorij.pharma.unizg.hr/object/pharma:3675
  3. Maltar A. Association of sociodemographic characteristics of families with the diet quality in primary school-aged boys in the Zagreb region. Master’s thesis. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology; 2025. https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:159:483146
  4. Bejić A. Assessment of diet quality and pesticide residues exposure in food in primary school boys. Master’s thesis. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology; 2023. https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:159:628699
  5. Bajan AR. Assessment of energy and nutritional value of meals and pesticide exposure of boys in prepuberty and puberty. Master’s thesis. University of Zagreb, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology; 2022. https://urn.nsk.hr/urn:nbn:hr:159:971330

Educational leaflets:

  1. How to catch the rhythm: a recipe for sleeping for adolescents [in Croatian]
Mobile/web version:Download
Print version:Download

2. Advice for food preparation to reduce dietary intake of pesticide residues [in Croatian]

Mobile/web and print version:Download

3. Dietary recommendations for adolescents [in Croatian]

Mobile/web and print version:Download

Promotional materials:

  1. PyrOPECh promotional video [in Croatian]:

2. Information leaflet – call for participation for parents and children [in Croatian]

PyrOPECh – information leafletDownload