Surface waters can be contaminated in many ways, e.g., by solutions and suspended matter. Moreover, insoluble substances in colloidal form, in suspension or adsorbed on solid bodies can dissolve in response to changing physical and chemical conditions and become a secondary source of surface water pollution, thereby endangering wildlife. In addition, if we take into account varying rates of flow, contaminants can be transported over considerable distances. Hydrological processes, which determine factors, such as the rate of sedimentation, also influence the quality of surface waters; bottom sediments can contain large quantities of accumulated organic and inorganic compounds, including heavy metals. The physical and chemical properties of aquatic ecosystems are characterized by a number of interdependent parameters. Hence, factors such as temperature, oxygen content and pH of a water body can alter the solubility of the salts present in it, the forms of occurrence of particular species, as well as their bioavailability and toxicity. Thus it is necessary to determine the various species of metals present in the different compartments of the aquatic ecosystem.

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The flame resistance of applied coating materials affects the safety of innovative technological solutions. Silicone-containing polymeric materials are one of the most economical solutions in the field of coatings due to the effect of the unique combination of very good thermal, resistance, and surface properties. The rich chemistry of silicon compounds, which results in their very good thermal stability, allows their use as flame-resistant coating materials or as flame retardants in polymer composites. In this review, the flame resistance of PDMS systems based on their thermal degradation data, as well as possible paths of thermal degradation depending on external conditions including the effect of additives, flame resistance of hybrid silicone-containing coating materials and most important innovative applications of these materials, are reviewed. Very good results from the use of organic silicon compounds as fire retardants in polymers obtained by many research teams are one of the promising ways of overcoming the health, safety, and availability concerns of traditional halogenated fire retardants.

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Air quality is one of the most important problems of the modern world, as it determines human health and changes occurring in other elements of nature, including climate change. For this reason, actions are taken to reduce the amount of harmful substances in the air. One such action is the use of building materials with special properties achieved by the application of self-cleaning coatings and photocatalytic additives. This article presents achievements in the field of additives and modifiers for building materials, whose task is to improve air quality. Concrete, cement, paints, and facade coatings modified based on the achievements of nanotechnology have been analyzed in terms of new properties and the possibility of their application in the area of modern environmental requirements. Both positive aspects and doubts were described in the scope of the effective reduction of the amount of gases such as VOC, NOx, dust and microorganisms.