386 Published By: Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication © Copyright: All rights reserved. Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijeat.E28430610521 DOI:10.35940/ijeat.E2843.0610521 Journal Website: www.ijeat.org Abstract: Humans are generally exposed to a variety of pollutions present in the air they breathe, the food they eat or in the water they drink. Some of the most dangerous pollutions are metals and heavy metals. These are naturally occurring substances which are harmless when present in the environment at low levels. However, due to many pollutants such as industry processes or war activities, the heavy metal concentration can exceed the limit of tolerance and become very toxic for the natural environment and living organisms in it, including humans. Unlike organic pollutants, the heavy metals (as ions and as particulate matter) once introduced into the environment cannot be biodegraded and remain there indefinitely. By rainfall these pollutants can be partially transferred from air or soil into the rivers and drinking water sources, where they accumulate in even higher toxic levels. The high concentrations of heavy metals in contaminated natural water reservoirs have an impact on the microbial community composition which resides there. This type of water pollution can cause the changes in life cycles of natural bacterial populations, influencing their metabolic processes and proliferation. The presence of pathogens in water is normally indirectly determined by the testing for “indicator organism” such as coliform bacteria. Coliforms are usually present in larger numbers in contaminated water and at the same time they are indicators of whether other pathogenic bacteria are present, too. In crisis situations, like war or some natural disasters, where trusted sources of drinking water are not available anymore, the military and residents of affected areas are forced to use some alternative water resources that cannot be tested for their microbial or metal contamination properly. Therefore, the existence of some fast test that would detect not only dangerous bacterial pathogens in water, but also the presence of metals and heavy metals as well, would be of great help and importance for the human health. Even though the number of pathogens can be drastically reduced by the boiling of water, the heavy metals are not destroyed by high temperature. Hence the main objective of our work was to optimize the biosensor chip for microbial detection in contaminated water that would serve at the same time as an indicator for the chemical composition of the water,

The research includes analysis of: pH value, organic matter content, and the total concentration of manganese in eleven soil samples from different localities northeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sequential extractions of soil samples were also performed to determine the content of some form of binding manganese. Concentration of manganese in the flowers of calendula were also found and tested at these sites. From the obtained measurement, BCF (Bioconcentration Factor) values were calculated for the tested metal. Soil pH had values from 7.84 to 8.54, which puts them in the category of alkaline and strongly alkaline soil. The total concentration of manganese measured in soil samples do not exceed the limit values or are above average values. In the analyzed soil samples, the minimum content of manganese in the exchangeable fraction and the largest in the residual fraction and bound for oxides of manganese and iron. The concentrations of manganese in the flowers of calendula have not exceeded the permitted value. Statistical analysis of the results showed a weak linear correlation between pH value of an aqueous solution of the soil and the content of manganese in the flower, and linear correlation between manganese in the exchangeable fraction and the content of manganese in the flower. The calculated BCF values are very low and suggest that calendula growing on alkaline soil hasn’t got an expressed potential for accumulation of manganese.

The results of investigation of  inorganic and organic speciation of copper compounds  in  the lake Modrac, using the geochemical equilibrium model  BLM (Biotic Ligand Model; USEPA 2007) and other geochemical models are presented, as well as toxicity and bioavailability of copper compounds in the lake Modrac for chosen biotic ligand of fish fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Speciation and bioavailability of copper complexes was investigated and toxicity levels for chosen biotic ligand determined. The influence of water chemistry on copper toxicity is predominant, and application of sophisticated BLM model enables the prediction of toxicity and bioavailability of copper.