Metals in red and white wines may stem from both natural and anthropogenic sources, with their concentration serving as an important parameter influencing wine consumption. The objective of this study was to determine the metal content in available wine samples from the Bosnia and Herzegovina market. Eight samples of red wine and seven white wine samples were analysed. Cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were determined in these samples given their potential impact on wine quality and thus human health. Metal determination was conducted using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Limit of detection values were calculated using two methods for standard solution preparation, utilising distilled water and 10 % ethanol as blanks. Moreover, a human health risk assessment of trace elements present in wine samples was conducted. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn in the samples were found to be below the maximum allowed limits according to the regulations set by the International Organization of Vine and Wine, as well as the national regulations of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union and Croatia. The content of Cd, Co, Ni, and Pb in all wine samples was below the detection limit of FAAS. The data obtained indicated that consuming 250 ml of wine samples appeared to be safe regarding the health risk associated with the potentially toxic metal intake. However, consumers should remain aware of other potential risks associated with excessive wine consumption. Regarding winemakers and the wine industry, to reduce the metal content in wine, monitoring of metal content should extend beyond just the grapes to include soil, air quality at the vineyard locations, and at different stages of the winemaking process since metal content in wine has an impact on the sensory attributes and overall quality of the wine.

In this paper, chemical analysis of slag from abandoned medieval mine in Gornji Potočari, Srebrenica municipality was described. Total of 10 metals were analyzed: chromium, copper, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, zinc, silver, manganese, iron and lead. Traces of chromium, nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese and cadmium in the samples point to the fact that the starting ore also contained these elements. Results showed high content of iron (25.11–33.12%), lead (5.90–10.77%) and zinc (1.16–6.79%). The content of silver had a positive correlation with the content of lead, which is in favor of the initial hypothesis that the starting ore was galena (PbS). High zinc content indicates that the sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S was also used in the process, whereas iron most likely emanates from pyrite (FeS2). Galena and sphalerite can be found in Srebrenica area in large quantities. The results of the analysis show that the site was used for the production of lead and silver (from primary ores), intensive mining activity during the Middle Ages, and the latest date that we can account for slag origin is the end of the 16th century.

Abstract The goal of this study was to determine the content of 12 metals in 23 samples of teeth from two cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H): Sarajevo, a capital city with heavy traffic, industrial facilities, and long periods of smog during winter and Bihac, a picturesque small city, with no industrialization, settled among vivid national park and rivers. The teeth were separated into enamel and dentin. Dissolution of samples was performed in concentrated HNO3 with the addition of H2O2 followed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) analysis. The results showed expected high contents of Ca, Na, Mg, and K, while elevated contents of Cu, Fe, and Zn were present in some samples. K and Na showed uniform distributions throughout enamel and dentin. Alkaline and earth-alkaline metals showed significant positive correlations. Zinc and manganese exhibited differences in the dentin content based on the place of residence. Zinc also displayed statistically significant differences between smokers’ and nonsmokers’ dentin samples. The differences were more pronounced between intra groups (within one sample) than for inter groups (within different groups, such as location, gender, and smoking).