The aim of the study was to monitor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in outdoor air in nine cities/towns across the Republic of N. Macedonia and the Republic of Kosovo for nine consecutive months, using the Radiello® passive and diffusive samplers, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In parallel, employing static headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SHS-GC-MS) technique, VOCs from different types of commercially available gasoline and diesel fuels in the monitored cities were analyzed in order to obtain the chemical profiles and to evaluate the presence of their components in ambient air. GC-MS analyses indicate that the gasoline fuel components (BTEX: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) and diesel fuel components (n-undecane, n-dodecane, n-tridecane, n-tetradecane, and other linear alkanes) account for approximately 60% of VOCs in the outdoor air in the sampling sites. The bulk of the VOCs in the all-sampling locations regardless of the season come from fossil fuels (automotive fuels) and only minor fraction comes from biogenic emission which is dominated by monoterpenes. Furthermore, the ratios of benzene to toluene (B/T) and xylenes to ethylbenzene (X/E) were used to assess the origins of VOCs emissions in the outdoor urban air at the monitored sites.

This study presents a semi-quantitative characterization of volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations and their emission sources in indoor and outdoor environments across four residential and laboratory sites in Milan, Italy, during the summer of 2024. Radiello® passive samplers (Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri in Padova, Italy) were employed for VOC collection, followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The semi-quantitative mean total VOC (TVOC) concentration was 220.8 ± 195.4 µg/m3 for the outdoor air and slightly higher at 243.6 ± 134.3 µg/m3 for the indoor air, resulting in an indoor-to-outdoor relative ratio of 1.10. The outdoor VOC profile was dominated by hydrocarbons, accounting for 80.3% ± 4.6% (173.2 ± 143.8 µg/m3) of TVOCs, followed by aromatic hydrocarbons at 13.3% ± 5.5% (37.2 ± 49.7 µg/m3). Indoors, hydrocarbons also predominated, representing 34.1% ± 15.2% (95.2 ± 80.1 µg/m3) of the TVOCs, followed by terpenes at 20.7% ± 15.5% (49.0 ± 46.4 µg/m3). Other VOC groups contributed smaller fractions in both environments. The emission profiles from cleaning and personal care products were assessed semi-quantitatively to determine their relative percentage contributions to the indoor VOCs. Source attribution was further supported by diagnostic relative ratios—benzene/toluene, toluene/benzene, and (m + p)-xylene/ethylbenzene—which provided insight into dominant emission sources and photochemical aging.

Humans are exposed to various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, potentially leading to adverse health consequences. In this study, the distribution of vari-ous VOCs in indoor air in North Macedonia and Kosovo was investigated for the first time. From March to December 2023, the monthly relative abundance of VOCs was monitored using Radiello® pas-sive/diffusive samplers, followed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC MS) analysis.A total of 60 samples were collected from 17 sites, where over 70 individual VOCs belonging to several classes were identified. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) compounds were the most abundant in the chemical stockroom, contributing up to 77.84 % of the total VOC relative abun-dance. In the printing store/workplace, alkylbenzenes were predominant, comprising 69.72 %. Alcohols and ethers were primarily detected in the coffee shop, whereas organosiloxanes were dominant in the hair salon, accounting for 33.87 % and 54.46 % of the total VOCs, respectively. Terpenes were a significant component in the meat factory, representing 65.78 % of the total VOCs, while hydrocarbons were most prevalent in the oil & lubricants store, accounting for 58.23%. Halogenated compounds were primarily found in the superstore, constituting 20.42 % of total VOCs. The VOC composition results indicate that their presence in indoor environments may pose both acute and chronic health risks.

A new carbon paste electrode (CPE) incorporating Ru - nanoparticles (RuNP) stabilized on graphite powder was developed for H(2)O(2) amperometric detection. Cyclic voltammetric measurements, performed in phosphate buffer solutions at different potential scan rates and different potential ranges were carried out in order to evaluate the electrochemical behavior of the CPE-RuNP modified electrodes. From amperometric measurements performed at -0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl, KClsat, the electrocatalytic efficiency toward H(2)O(2) reduction was evaluated and it was found in the range: 28.47% (CPE) < 94.81% (CPE-RuNP (2.5:1)) < 118.19 % (CPE-RuNP (2.5:3)) < 152.43% (CPE-RuNP (2.5:2), recommending the new electrodes as promising sensors for hydrogen peroxide detection.

Fenethylline, commonly known as Captagon, is a stimulant with amphetamine-like properties that has gained notoriety due to its widespread illicit use, particularly in conflict zones. Its ease of synthesis and environmental persistence necessitate effective remediation strategies. This study investigates the adsorption potential of graphene (G) for Captagon removal using a multi-scale computational approach, including density functional theory (DFT), Monte Carlo (MC), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The interaction between Captagon and graphene was analyzed in both perpendicular and parallel adsorption configurations. The results indicate that the parallel orientation exhibits superior adsorption stability, with an adsorption energy of –51.15 kcal mol⁻1, primarily driven by π–π stacking interactions. Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis further reveals significant alterations in graphene's electronic properties upon Captagon adsorption, with noticeable shifts in the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) and Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital (LUMO) energy levels and bandgap (Egap). The molecular dynamics simulations confirm the stability of the Captagon-graphene complex, reinforcing graphene's potential as a viable adsorbent. These findings highlight graphene's efficiency in Captagon removal, suggesting its broader applicability in water purification and environmental remediation strategies.