The study of physicochemical and biochemical processes in living environment that have impacts on pollution and the investigation of possibilities for minimizing the consequences

The interdisciplinary approach is essential for defining impacts and consequences of anthropogenic pollution. In the frame of this project we plan to investigate physicochemical properties of atmospheric aerosol. The results obtained will be the input for chemometric modelling for identification of dominant emission sources and determination of their contribution in the region. We also plan to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air. An investigation of catalytic activity and selectivity of the synthesized catalysts in reactions of catalytic oxidation of VOCs will be done in order to find the best solutions for their emission control. With the help of sequential extraction method and by determining the total content of heavy metals in samples of sediments it is possible to define the association of metals with substrates, their bioavailability, origin and hazard to environment. The attention will be paid to determination of PAHs as lipophilic compounds that show high affinity to organic matter. The properties of molecules involved in environmental pollution will be studied using quantum chemical methods. PCR based finger printing techniques have proved extremely useful in assessing the microbial community structure and have provided useful phylogenetic information. In combination with fluorescent in situ hybridization, distribution, function and dynamic of bacterial population can be assessed in situ. There has been growing interest in breath analysis.