Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemicals of global concern due to their potential for long-range transport, persistence in environment, ability to biomagnify and bioaccumulate in ecosystems, as well as their significant negative effects on human health and the environment. In this study, seven targeted polychlorinated byphenils (PCBs, IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180) and the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane and oxy-chlordane were quantified in European date mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga L., 1758.) collected from the Sarajevo fish market (Bosnia and Herzegovina). This slow-growing species is widespread along the whole Mediterranean rocky coastline. In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), this species has not been protected by law and the date mussel harvested in the area of the Neum bay (Adriatic sea) could be found in free sale on BiH market. Applied gas chromatography and tissue extraction methods were validated in the NIVA laboratory. Our samples (n=61) were 4.5-8.4 cm in length. Total OCPs in the analyzed samples were low (ranging from non-detectable to 0.419 µg kg-1 w.w.), while Σ7PCBs was ranging from 20.26 to 135.37 µg kg-1 w.w.. PCBs 101, 118, 138 and 153 were dominant congeners in all samples.

Power plants, such as coal boilers, emit flue gases containing solid particles and gases resulting from the combustion of coal. One of the most dangerous pollutants emitted is certainly sulfur dioxide. Therefore, the reduction of emissions of sulfur dioxide has become a legal obligation. So far the most successful method of reducing the content of sulfur dioxide in the combustion products leaving the environment is injecting limestone or lime in combustion and to provide conditions for the reaction between the injected lime and sulfur dioxide from combustion products still in the combustion chamber. This method has been successfully used in thermal power plants to coal. This paper deals with the possibility of introducing the process of dry flue gas desulphurization created during coal combustion in boilers of smaller.

Genotoxic effects of inorganic molecule dipotassium-trioxohydroxytetrafluorotriborate, K2(B3O3F4OH), a promising new therapeutic for the epidermal changes treatment, have been evaluated. In vitro analysis included evaluation of genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of K2(B3O3F4OH) in concentrations of 0.01, 0.02, 0.05 and 0.06 mg/mL applying cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay in human lymphocyte culture. With the increase of concentration the frequency of micronuclei elevated but the differences were not significant. Also, there were no significant differences among the frequencies of nuclear buds and nucleoplasmic bridges between controls and treated cultures. Nuclear division index and nuclear division cytotoxycity index values did not reveal significant cytotoxic effect of K2(B3O3F4OH). In vivo genotoxic effects were analyzed on BALB/c mice applying reticulocytes micronucleus assay. K2(B3O3F4OH) was administrated intraperitoneally in final concentrations of 10, 20, 50 and 55 mg/kg. Significant decrease of reticulocytes ratio and increase of micronuclei frequencies against pre-treatments were found for both sampling periods of 48 and 72 hours of the highest applied concentration. This study confirmed that K2(B3O3F4OH) is not genotoxic in tested concentrations in vitro as well as in concentrations lower than 55 mg/kg in vivo. This study presents a reliable basis for further pre-clinical and potential clinical investigations.

The boron heterocyclic compound dipottasium trioxohydroxytetraflourotriborate, K2[B3O3F4OH] has been listed as a promising new therapeutic for the epidermal changes treatment. In order to elucidate its free radical scavenging activity, several appropriate thermodynamic molecular descriptors were calculated with the help of quantum-chemistry methods and their values were compared with the data obtained for ascorbic acid, trimethlyboroxine and trimethoxyboroxine. Considering the results, it may be suggested that the single electron transfer followed by proton transfer (SET-PT) is more favourable reaction pathway than hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) for the halogenated boroxine K2[B3O3F4OH]. Experimental support is provided by evaluating the in-vitro antioxidant activity of the investigated compounds in terms of their ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Our study reveals that all three examined boroxines are extremely weak antioxidants.