This study examines the impact of an unintended fire at the Drava International plastic processing facility near Osijek, Croatia, on soil quality and the potential human health risks associated with agricultural soils within a 10 and 20 km radius. Surface soil samples (0–5 cm) were collected from ten locations within 10 km three days after the incident, and eight composite samples were taken from sites 10–20 km away 17 days’ post-event. Additionally, 18 control samples previously collected for soil fertility or quality monitoring were included for comparative analysis. In total, 36 agricultural soil samples were analyzed for pH, organic matter, total phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and trace elements (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Pb). Eighteen post-fire samples were also analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins, and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Ecological risk was assessed using the pollution load index (PLI) and enrichment factor (EF), while human health risk was evaluated through the estimation of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) and individual carcinogenic risks (CRi) for As, Cr, Ni, and Pb. Results showed that concentrations of dioxins (TEQ LB and UB), dioxin-like PCBs, and non-dioxin-like PCBs in samples within 10 km were either below detection limits or present in trace amounts (4.0 × 10⁻⁶ mg/kg). PFAS compounds were not detected (<0.0005 mg/kg). The total concentration of non-dioxin-like PCBs ranged from 0.0023 to 0.0047 mg/kg, well below the maximum permissible levels. Post-fire contamination profiles revealed consistently higher PAH concentrations in the 0–10 km zone (mean 0.100 mg/kg) compared to the 10–20 km zone (mean 0.062 mg/kg). Twenty PLI values exceeded the threshold of 1 (range: 1.00–1.26), indicating moderate pollution, while the remaining values (PLI 0.82–0.99) suggested no pollution. EF values indicated minimal to moderate enrichment (EF < 2), supporting the conclusion that metal presence was predominantly geological with limited anthropogenic influence. All ILCR values for adults and children remained below the acceptable threshold of 1 × 10⁻⁴, indicating low carcinogenic risk under both pre- and post-fire conditions. CRi values followed a consistent decreasing trend across exposure pathways: ingestion > dermal absorption > inhalation.

Electrokinetic remediation (EKR) was evaluated in naturally contaminated vineyard soils to assess copper redistribution, treatment redistribution efficiency, and changes in copper fractions across contrasting soil pH conditions. Ten vineyard soils (five acidic, five alkaline) were subjected to a 30-day ex situ EKR experiment under a constant electric field. Total copper content was measured in the anode, cathode, and inter-electrode zones, while copper fractions were quantified only in electrode zones exhibiting the most pronounced post-remediation decrease in total copper. The findings demonstrate that the EKR process generated distinct, soil-type-dependent gradients in copper mobility. In acidic soils, copper exhibited pronounced central-zone accumulation with notable depletion toward the anode, whereas in alkaline soils, the lowest concentrations consistently occurred near the cathode and increased toward the anode. Notably, one slightly alkaline soil displayed the highest redistribution efficiency (43.0%), underscoring the strong influence of soil chemistry on EKR performance. Redistribution efficiencies averaged 29.5% in acidic soils and 12.8% in alkaline soils, although localized acidification enabled notably higher redistribution in highly contaminated samples. These trends reflected on copper fractions: acidic soils showed enhanced release from Fe/Mn oxides and carbonates, while alkaline soils experienced stronger short-term mobilization driven by cation competition and dissolution of less stable oxide phases. Fractionation results indicated that the Fe/Mn oxide-bound fraction was the most susceptible to electromigration, while both acidic and alkaline soils ultimately shifted copper toward less extractable operational fractions.

Cilj ovoga rada je analiza kako su se poljoprivredni obrazovni programi integrirali u obrazovni sustav te kakvu ulogu imaju u pripremi budućih stručnjaka za poljoprivrednu industriju. Poljoprivreda kao grana gospodarstva ima ključnu ulogu u osiguravanju prehrambene sigurnosti, ekonomskom razvoju te očuvanju okoliša. Stoga je važno analizirati načine na koje obrazovanje može podržati održiv razvoj poljoprivrede i ruralnih zajednica. Također se anketom istražuju trendovi u upisu u poljoprivredne srednje škole Osječko-baranjske županije, te kroz anketu identificirajući faktore koji utječu na odluku učenika da se opredijele za takvo obrazovanje. Saznanja iz ovog istraživanja pružaju važan uvid u dinamiku obrazovanja i tržišta rada u poljoprivrednom sektoru te sugeriraju potrebu za daljnjim promicanjem i razvojem programa obrazovanja u poljoprivredi kako bi se zadovoljile potrebe budućih generacija stručnjaka u poljoprivredi.