Dissecting a human cadaver is an irreplaceable practice in general training of medical students. Cadavers in anatomy laboratories are usually preserved in formalin, an embalming fluid whose basic component is formaldehyde (FA). The aim of this study is to assess the cancer risk of employees and students that are exposed to FA based on the results of three monitoring campaigns, as well as to suggest permanent solutions to the problem of FA exposure based on the results obtained. Three sampling campaigns of formaldehyde concentration in indoor environments were conducted at five different locations at the Anatomy Department of the Faculty of Medicine with the purpose of assessing permanent employees’ and medical faculty first year students’ exposure to FA. Indoor air was continuously sampled during 8 h of laboratory work and analyzed in accordance with the NIOSH Method 3500. Exceeding of the 8 h time-weighted average (8 h TWA) values recommended by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) of 0.75 ppm was recorded in 37% of the samples during the three-month monitoring campaign. Cancer risk assessment levels for permanent employees were in the range from 6.43 × 10⁻³ to 8.77 × 10⁻⁴, while the cancer risk assessment levels for students ranged from 8.94 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.83 × 10⁻⁶. The results of the research show that cancer risk assessment for employees is several thousand times higher than the limit recommended by the EPA (10⁻⁶) and point to the importance of reducing exposure to formaldehyde through the reconstruction of the existing ventilation system, continual monitoring, the use of formaldehyde-free products, and plastination of anatomical specimens.

The experimental investigation presented in this research was performed in order to examine the possibility of the removal of SO₂ from flue gases by cleaning with a solution of lime suspension and formic acid (Ca(OH)₂ and HCOOH). Research was conducted in a laboratory plant (rotary kiln) of 44 kW. The mass of the lime suspension (LS) was 400 g. The mass of the LS was homogenized (mixed) in a sample cup with 2 g (0.5%), 4 g (1%) and 8 g (2%) of 60% formic acid. The solution was placed in a gas washing bottle, where a partial flow of flue gas generated by the combustion of diesel fuel was injected. Simultaneously with the diesel fuel combustion, SO₂ from a bottle was injected in a rotary kiln. The average mass concentration of SO₂ in the flue gas at the entry point of the gas washing bottle was around 2900 ppm. The results indicated that the absorption of SO₂ by the cleaning of flue gas with LS was 96.83%. Adding formic acid to the LS in mass ratios of 0.5% (2 g), 1% (4 g) and 2% (8 g) resulted in absorptions of 99.25%, 98.77% and 98%, respectively. The absorption of flue gases in the gas washing bottle with LS, with the addition of formic acid in the mentioned ratios, showed a reduction in sulfates and pH value, and a rise in sulfides and calcium, respectively.

The new approach of the study was to assess the consistency between the gas-particle partition coefficients of 16 EPA PAHs predicted by the ab/ad-sorption Dachs-Eisenreich model and the experimental results obtained within the field measurements. A total number of 29 air samples was obtained at 9 locations in Serbia. High Volume Air Sampler was applied, with quartz filters for collecting the atmospheric particles and polyurethane foam filters (PUF) for retaining the free gas molecules of PAHs. The results predicted by the model and experimental data were compared. Deviations between the measured and predicted f values were less than one order of magnitude for Flo, Phe, Ant, Flu, Pyr, B(a)A and Chr. For the PAHs with high molecular mass, B(b)F, B(k)F, B(a)P, I(1,2,3-cd)P, D(ah)A and B(ghi)P, very good agreement was confirmed, except for the data measured at the Oil refinery in Pančevo. Applied model underestimated the concentrations of PAHs in gas-phase for the low-molecular mass PAHs.

Replacing the alkyl lead derivatives with aromatic hydrocarbons and additives in modern reformulated fuels to improve internal combustion engine performance, lower fuel consumption, increase power, and improve emission characteristics have resulted in the emission of large quantities of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) compounds into the atmospheric compartment. In this research, how the different working regimes of an experimental engine affect the BTEX compound concentration levels was observed to evaluate the quantities emitted during the movement of a passenger car in urban driving conditions. The target compounds were analyzed in exhaust gas samples using the Photovac Voyager-mobile GC (Waltham, MA, USA). This experimental research demonstrates that optimizing engine operational parameters significantly reduces the concentration levels of BTEX compounds in exhaust gas mixtures by adjusting specific working regimes, contributing to better emission characteristics and promoting sustainable transportation solutions. The most significant effect of the independent increase in air quantity in the feed mixture is realized through the decrease in concentration levels of toluene in the exhaust gas mixture of approximately 81%. A significant reduction in concentration levels is achieved with m,p-xylene (79%) and o-xylene (79%) as well, whilst the lowest effect has been noted with benzene (73%) and ethylbenzene (71%).