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Organic compounds in atmospheric particulate matter above Maribor were analysed in 120 samples of PM10 sampled according to the EN 12341:2014 reference method. Organic compounds compositions were investigated together with the primary and secondary sources of air pollution. Silylation as derivatisation method was used for the GC-MS determination of volatile and semi-volatile polar organic compounds. Distribution of fatty acids, n-alkanes and iso-alkanes, phthalate esters, siloxanes, different sterols, various sugars and sugar alcohols, compounds of lignin and resin acids, dicarboxylic acids from photochemical reactions, PAHs, organic nitrogen compounds and products from secondary oxi- dation of monoterpenes were determined. The use of silicone grease for the purpose of lubricating the impact surface of the air sampler caused higher values of gravimetric determination. Solid particles may have been bounced from the surface of a greasy impact plate and re-entrained within the air stream and then collected on a sample filter. The carryover of siloxanes was at least from 5% up to 15% of the accumulated particles weight, depending on ambient temperature. This was the reason that the gravimetric results for determination of PM10 according to the standard EN 12341:2014 were overestimated. V 120 vzorcih PM10 smo analizirali organske spojine v aerosolskih delcih v zraku nad Mariborom z uporabo metode EN 12341:2014. Proučevali smo sestavo organskih spojin ter primarne in sekundarne izvore le-teh. Za določevanje hlapnih in delno hlapnih polarnih organskih spojin z GC-MS smo uporabili sililiranje kot derivatizacijsko metodo. Določevali smo porazdelitve maščobnih kislin, n-alkanov in izo-alkanov, ftalatnih estrov, siloksanov, različnih sterolov, različnih sladkorjev in sladkornih alkoholov, spojine ligninov in smolnih kislin, dikarboksilnih kislin nastalih s fotokemijskimi reakcijami, policikličnih organskih ogljikovodikov, organskih dušikovih spojin in produktov nastalih pri sekundarni oksidaciji monoterpenov. Uporaba silikonske masti na površini impaktne plošče vzorčevalnika lahko povzroči višje vrednosti gravimetrijske določitve. Trdni delci se lahko odbijejo od impaktne plošče in ponovno vstopijo v zračni tok in se nato zberejo na filtru. To prenašanje siloksanov je lahko najmanj od 5% do 15% skupne mase akumuliranih delcev v odvisnosti od temperature. To je razlog, da so gravimetrijski rezultati določevanja PM10 po EN 12341:2014 standardu previsoki.

The quality of ground water as a source of drinking water in Slovenia is regularly monitored. One of the monitoring programmes is performed on 5 wells for drinking water supply, 3 industrial wells and 2 ground water monitoring wells. Two hundred and fourteen samples of ground waters were analysed in the time 2003-2004. Samples were gathered from ten different sampling sites and physical chemical measurements were performed. The following 13 physical chemical parameters were regularly controlled: temperature, pH, conductivity, nitrate, AOX (adsorbable organic halogens), metals such as chromium, pesticides (desethyl atrazine, atrazine and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide), highly-volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (trichlorometane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethene and 1,1,2-trichloroethene). For handling the results different chemometrics methods were employed, such as basic statistical methods for the determination of mean and median values, standard deviations, minimal and maximal values of measured parameters and their mutual correlation coefficients, cluster analysis (CA), the principal component analysis (PCA), the clustering method based on Kohonen neural network, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The study gives the opportunity to follow the quality of ground waters at different sampling sites within the defined time period. Monitoring of general pollution of ground waters and following measuring can be used to search the pollution source, to plan prevention measures and to protect from pollution, as well. V Sloveniji spremljamo kakovost podzemne vode na številnih mestih, saj je podzemna voda pomemben vir pitne vode. Kot vir podatkov za kemometrično obdelavo smo izbrali monitoring v katerem je vključeno 5 vodnjakov, ki so namenjeni za oskrbo s pitno vodo, 3 industrijski vodnjaki in 2 kontrolni vrtini. Opravili smo analizo 214 vzorcev podzemnih vod v letih 2003 in 2004. Vzorce smo odvzeli na omenjenih desetih merilnih mestih in opravili fizikalne in kemijske analize. Fizikalno kemijske preiskave vključujejo merjenje naslednjih 13 parametrov, ki so podlaga za oceno kemijskega stanja podzemnih vod: pH vrednost, temperatura vode, električna prevodnost, vsebnost nitrata, vsebnost adsorbljivih organskih halogenov (AOX), vsebnost Cr(VI) in skupnega kroma, vsebnost pesticidov kot so desetil atrazin, atrazin in 2,6-diklorobenzamid, ter vsebnost halogeniranih ogljikovodikov kot so triklorometan, 1,1,2,2-tetrakloroeten in 1,1,2-trikloroeten. Za obdelavo rezultatov meritev smo uporabili različne kemometrične metode, osnovne statistične metode za določitev povprečne vrednosti in mediane, standardnih odmikov, minimalnih in maksimalnih vrednosti merjenih parametrov in njihovih medsebojnih korelacijskih koeficientov, analizo grup (CA), metodo glavnih osi (PCA), metodo grupiranja, ki temelji na Kohonenovih nevronskih mrežah in metodo linearne diskriminantne analize (LDA). Z metodo glavnih osi in s Kohonenovimi nevronskimi mrežami smo poizkusili poiskati podobnosti med posameznimi merilnimi mesti. Študija daje možnost, da sledimo kakovost podzemne vode na posameznih merilnih mestih in v določenem časovnem obdobju. Časovno sleditev splošnega onesnaženja podzemnih vod ter rezultatov posameznih merjenih parametrov, ki presegajo dovoljene meje, lahko uporabimo za iskanje vzrokov onesnaženja in za načrtovanje preventivnih ukrepov za zaščito pred onesnaženjem.

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method for the simultaneous identification and quantification of seven major phenolic and terpenic compounds in Rosmarinus officinalis L. was developed. The compounds were identified as trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of phenolic acids (caffeic and rosmarinic acid), phenolic diterpene (carnosic acid), and pentacyclic triterpenes (ursolic, oleanolic, betulinic acid and betulin). These compounds have been identified by retention time and comparison of mass spectra. The procedure involves ultrasonic extraction using solvent mixture of tetrahydrofuran and ethanol. Extracts were fractionated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) after purifying on graphitised carbon. The fraction with phenolic and terpenic compounds was derivatised prior to GC-MS analysis using N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) as a derivatisation reagent. The derivatisation process was optimized regarding temperature and reaction time. The linearity of the method was tested in concentration range 4-25 mg L$^{–1}$. The correlation coefficients ($r^2$) were in the range of 0.997 to 0.999. The average recoveries for all compounds ranged from 80 to 82%. The GC-MS technique is specific and sensitive, and can be used for simultaneous identification and determination of a wide range of phenolic and terpenic compounds in different plants even at trace levels. Razvili smo metodo za sočasno identifikacijo in kvantitativno določitev sedmih fenolnih in terpenskih spojin v rožmarinu (Rosmarinus officinalis L) s plinsko kromatografijo in masno spektrometrijo (GC-MS). Spojine smo identificirali kot trimetilsilil (TMS) derivate fenolnih kislin (kofeinske in rožmarinske kisline), fenolnega diterpena (karnozolne kisline) in pentacikličnih triterpenov (ursolne, oleanolne, betulinske kisline in betulina). Naštete spojine so bile potrjene s primerjavo retencijskih časov in masnih spektrov derivatov preiskovanih spojin. Metoda vključuje ultrazvočno ekstrakcijo preiskovanih spojin z mešanico topil tetrahidrofuran in etanol. Ekstrakte smo po čiščenju na aktivnem oglju, frakcionirali z velikostno izkjučitveno kromatografijo. Frakcijo, ki je vsebovala fenolne in terpenske spojine, smo pred GC- MS analizo derivatizirali z N-metil-N-trimetilsilil trifluoroacetamidom (MSTFA). Postopek derivatizacije smo optimirali glede na čas reakcije in temperaturo. Linearnost metode smo preverili v koncentracijskem območju 4–25 mg L$^{–1}$. Povprečni izkoristki za preiskovane spojine so bili med 80 to 82 %, korelacijski koeficienti ($r^2$) so bili med 0,997 in 0,999. GC-MS tehnika je specifična in občutljiva, omogoča dobro ločevanje spojin in je zato primerna za sočasno identifikacijo in določevanje širokega spektra fenolnih in terpenskih spojin v različnih rastlinah, tudi ko so spojine prisotne v sledovih.

Considerable levels of highly toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCCDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were determined in two among the sixanalysed disperse textile dyes. The dioxin homologue profile of these dyes was similar to that found in some environmental and industrial samples, connected with the textile industry. Dyes contaminated with dioxins were further used in industrial polyester dyeing processes at laboratory scale. We observed the changes in dioxin contents, dioxin transformations and their distribution during the textile dyeing process. After the dyeing and textile finishing processes the content of dioxins was up to fifteen times higher. More than 85% of the total dioxin content was found in dyed polyester. Other 15% was discharged with waste dye bath. Our results confirmed that the presence of dioxins in some textile dyes may be a significant source regardinghuman exposure and environmental contamination. Dioksine predstavljata skupini toksičnih obstojnih spojin polikloriranih dibenzo-p-dioksinov in polikloriranih dibenzofuranov. V okviru naših raziskav smo preverili prisotnost dioksinov v tekstilnih barvilih. Analizirali smo šest vzorcev tekstilnih barvil. V dveh vzorcih tekstilnih disperznih barvil smo določili znatne vsebnosti dioksinov. Porazdelitev dioksinov v teh vzorcih barvil je podobna porazdelitvi dioksinov določeni v nekaterih vzorcih povezanih s tekstilno industrijo. Barvila, ki vsebujejo dioksine smo uporabili v poizkusih barvanja in spremljali spremembe v porazdelitvi in koncentraciji dioksinov skozi postopek barvanja. Masna bilanca dioksinov v postopku barvanja pokaže povečanje vsebnosti dioksinov, medtem ko ostaja njihova porazdelitev nespremenjena. Pri barvanju pri visokih temperaturah in v alkalnem mediju nastajajo dioksini iz prekurzorskih (predhodnih) spojin. Več kot 85% celotne vsebnosti dioksinov smo določili v vzorcih obarvanega poliestra. Preostalih 15% smo določili v odpadni barvalni kopeli. Rezultati raziskav dokazujejo, da prisotnost dioksinov v nekaterih tekstilnih barvilih predstavlja znaten doprinos k vsebnosti teh spojin v širšem okolju.

A GC-MS method was successfully applied to measure simultaneously the concentrations of endocrine disrupting compounds (5 dialkyl phthalates, 9 phthalate monoesters, 3 alkylphenols and bisphenol A) in 136 male urine samples. In the present study the method was validated and concentrations of EDCs were determined. The results were compared with results from other studies. Correlations between endocrine disrupting compounds and also correlations of endocrine disrupting compounds with two semen quality parameters are presented and evaluated. Significant positive correlations were found between almost all the endocrine disrupting compounds. The parameter sum of DEHP (SUM DEHP) was positively correlated to all the endocrine disrupting compounds but negatively to two semen quality parameters. Negative correlations between the endocrine disrupting compounds and the semen quality parameters could indicate that endocrine disrupting compounds could cause reproductive problems by decreasing the semen count and quality. This research will have helped to evaluate human exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds.

Nonylphenols (NP) possess estrogenic activities and may cause increased risk of cancerous and reproductive abnormalities in several living organisms. Despite their harmful nature, NPs are used as additives in food packaging material, especially plastic, which is the main food contact material in today's packaging landscape. According to the fact that food packaging is one of the major potential food contaminant sources regarding NPs, there is a need for more information on identifying and quantifying of these chemicals when migrating into food. Seventeen plastic films for food packaging were analyzed for the presence of NPs nine of them were plastic films for deep freeze food packaging. We determined and quantified NPs by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) using the internal standard method. All plastic films for deep freeze food packaging contained NPs within a concentration range from 11.9 to 43.7 mg/kg. We also studied the migration of NPs from three of the plastic films for deep freeze food packaging into food simulants. The migration of NPs from these plastic films into 95% ethanol and 10% ethanol was higher than the amount migrating into distilled water or 3% acetic acid. Nonilfenole (NP) uvrščamo med motilce delovanja endokrinega hormonskega sistema. Zaradi posnemanja delovanja naravnih hormonov lahko povzročijo povečano tveganje nastanka raka in reproduktivne nepravilnosti v živih organizmih. Kljub neugodnim lastnostim, se kot dodatki uporabljajo v embalažah za živila, predvsem v plastičnih folijah. Embalaža za živila je lahko eden izmed glavnih izvorov NP v živilih. Zato so podatki o vsebnosti NP v embalaži in predvsem podatki o prehajanju NP v hrano zelo pomembni. Prisotnost NP smo preverili v sedemnajstih plastičnih folijah, ki se uporabljajo za embalažo živil. Devet izmed vzorcev je bilo plastičnih folij, ki se uporabljajo za hranjenje globoko zamrznjene hrane. Vsebnost NP smo določili s plinsko kromatografijo v povezavi z masno spektrometrijo (GC-MS) z metodo internega standarda. V vseh preiskovanih folijah, ki se uporabljajo za embalažo zamrznjene hrane smo zaznali NP v koncentracijskem območju od 11,9 mg/kg do 43,7 mg/kg folije. Z migracijskimi poskusi smo preverili prehod NP iz treh plastičnih folij v modelne raztopine. V modelni vodni raztopini z 95 % in 10 % etanola je migrirala večja količina NP kakor v samo destilirano vodo ali v modelno vodno raztopino z 3 % ocetne kisline.

The quality of ground water as a source of drinking water in Slovenia is regularly monitored. One of the monitoring programmes is performed on 5 wells for drinking water supply, 3 industrial wells and 2 ground water monitoring wells. Two hundred and fourteen samples of ground waters were analysed in the time 2003-2004. Samples were gathered from ten different sampling sites and physical chemical measurements were performed. The following 13 physical chemical parameters were regularly controlled: temperature, pH, conductivity, nitrate, AOX (adsorbable organic halogens), metals such as chromium, pesticides (desethyl atrazine, atrazine and 2,6-dichlorobenzamide), highly-volatile halogenated hydrocarbons (trichlorometane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethene and 1,1,2-trichloroethene). For handling the results different chemometrics methods were employed, such as basic statistical methods for the determination of mean and median values, standard deviations, minimal and maximal values of measured parameters and their mutual correlation coefficients, cluster analysis (CA), the principal component analysis (PCA), the clustering method based on Kohonen neural network, and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The study gives the opportunity to follow the quality of ground waters at different sampling sites within the defined time period. Monitoring of general pollution of ground waters and following measuring can be used to search the pollution source, to plan prevention measures and to protect from pollution, as well.

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method for the simultaneous identification and quantification of seven major phenolic and terpenic compounds in Rosmarinus officinalis L. was developed. The compounds were identified as trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of phenolic acids (caffeic and rosmarinic acid), phenolic diterpene (carnosic acid), and pentacyclic triterpenes (ursolic, oleanolic, betulinic acid and betulin). These compounds have been identified by retention time and comparison of mass spectra. The procedure involves ultrasonic extraction using solvent mixture of tetrahydrofuran and ethanol. Extracts were fractionated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) after purifying on graphitised carbon. The fraction with phenolic and terpenic compounds was derivatised prior to GC-MS analysis using N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) as a derivatisation reagent. The derivatisation process was optimized regarding temperature and reaction time. The linearity of the method was tested in concentration range 4-25 mg L-1. The correlation coefficients (r2) were in the range of 0.997 to 0.999. The average recoveries for all compounds ranged from 80 to 82%. The GC-MS technique is specific and sensitive, and can be used for simultaneous identification and determination of a wide range of phenolic and terpenic compounds in different plants even at trace levels.