Water is a natural resource necessary for all living organisms. In our research, the research material is water.As measuring points for sampling analysis are: measuring point 1 (Crna Reka near the village of Novaci), measuring point 2 (fifth channel exit of Bitola), measuring point 3 (fifth channel near the village of Kravari) measuring point 4 (fifth channel before flowing into the Crna Reka), measuring point 5 (Crna Reka before being mixed with water from the fifth channel), measuring point 6 (Crna Reka after mixing with water from the fifth channel) and measuring point 7 (Crna Reka near the village of Skocivir). In order to determine the quality of the water from sanitary-hygienic aspect, the following microbiological tests have been made: determining the number of Escherichia coli, with a membrane filtration method made according to the ISO 9308-1:2000 standard for water quality and determination of the number of Enterococcus with membrane filtration according to the ISO 7899-2:2000 standard. The number of types of microorganisms tested indicates an increase in the number of microorganisms in the channel (measuring point 2, 3 and 4) which, at the measuring point 6 (junction of Crna Reka with the channel), are transmitted in Crna Reka. And with that, not only the Crna Reka is getting polluted, but also the entire environment. All this indicates that the cleaning of the canal and the watercourse should become an obligation before the competent institutions but also the obligation of each individual is to protect his environment.

Physicochemical and microbiological parameters are important indicators of drinking water quality. This study assessed the quality of groundwater used for drinking in four regions of Kosovo at 16 locations using an integrated assessment framework that combined physicochemical, microbiological, and Water Quality Index (WQI) approaches. The results reveal substantial spatial variability in water quality. While most physicochemical parameters remained within recommended limits, elevated values of total dissolved solids (up to 2792.5 mg/L), electrical conductivity (up to 2768.5 µS/cm), nitrate (up to 60.75 mg/L), and phosphate (up to 0.875 mg/L) were observed at several locations, indicating localized hydrogeochemical and anthropogenic influences. Dissolved oxygen levels were generally low (0.68–5.49 mg/L), reflecting limited aeration conditions in groundwater systems. Microbiological analysis revealed critical contamination, with Escherichia coli concentrations up to 299.9 CFU/100 mL, and all sampling sites exceeded permissible limits, indicating widespread fecal pollution and rendering the groundwater unsafe for direct consumption. WQI assessment further confirmed this condition, where 93.75% of locations were classified as medium quality using the NSF-WQI method, whereas the WA-WQI method categorized 68.75% of samples as poor and 6.25% as very poor. The novelty of this study lies in the integrated evaluation of hydrogeochemical processes and microbiological contamination using dual WQI methods and multivariate statistical analysis, providing a comprehensive understanding of groundwater degradation pathways. The findings are significant for policymakers, environmental managers, and public health authorities, highlighting the urgent need for groundwater treatment, improved sanitation infrastructure, and sustainable water resource management strategies in vulnerable regions.

Groundwater is vital to subsurface ecosystems and to maintaining water supplies for human and environmental needs. Heavy metal pollution of water bodies poses a significant threat to environmental health and human well-being. In this paper, a detailed spatiotemporal analysis of heavy metal pollution at a network of 35 sampling sites is presented for the summer, autumn, and winter seasons. The water samples were analyzed based on the concentration (μg/L) of eight priority metals, such as Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), Chromium VI (Cr-VI), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), as well as Iron (Fe). Measuring contamination levels, identifying space hotspots, and explaining seasonal variations were the key tasks. The results show that Fe, Zn, and Cu concentrations are consistently high across seasons, with mean values ranging from 234.3 to 253.2 µg/L (Fe), 163.2 to 175.6 µg/L (Zn), and 107.0 to 109.2 µg/L (Cu), indicating a widespread geogenic or diffuse source. The most significant seasonal deviation was observed in the fall when there were unusually high levels of Cd and Hg, with mean concentrations reaching 0.476 µg/L and 0.312 µg/L, respectively, suggesting a strong seasonal contamination event or mobilization process. The spatial analysis showed that the locations (e.g., L6, L8, L10, L28, L29) exhibited common hotspots for different metals, with maximum concentrations reaching up to 793.3 µg/L (Fe), 602.3 µg/L (Zn), and 508 µg/L (Cu). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) effectively separated seasonal trends and classified metals into anthropogenic (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr (VI)) and geogenic/diffuse (Fe, Zn, Cu) groups. The health risk assessment indicated no significant non-carcinogenic risk, although children are more vulnerable, while arsenic levels in winter approached the upper acceptable carcinogenic limit (up to 1.1 × 10⁻⁴). Overall, the study highlights the importance of multi-seasonal monitoring by capturing temporally abrupt contamination events and provides a novel integrated framework that combines seasonal analysis, spatial hotspot identification, and multivariate techniques, distinguishing it from conventional single-season or non-integrated studies.

The elevation of glucose levels in the blood adversely affects the quality of life. It is a health condition that results in a disturbance or dysfunction of a specific physiological process in the body and may manifest through various symptoms. The purpose of this research is to examine the impact of lifestyle and dietary habits in patients with hyperglycemia and to demonstrate that modifications to these factors can lead to significant improvements and regulation of hyperglycemia levels. To conduct the research, a survey questionnaire was administered to patients in Kosovo who are experiencing issues with elevated blood glucose levels. For this purpose, a total of 200 respondents aged between 27 and 85 were included. The questionnaire comprises 48 survey questions. A statistical analysis of the collected data was conducted using SPSS, Reviews, and MS Excel software applications. The data obtained indicate that the majority of respondents are aged between 51 and 60 years. According to the educational structure, a maximum of 60% has completed secondary education. A total of 23 patients exhibits normal body mass, defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) ranging from 18.5 to 24.9. In contrast, 38% of patients, equating to 76 individuals, demonstrate excess body mass as determined by BMI criteria. Fifty percent (50%) of patients exhibiting hyperglycemia frequently omit breakfast. Eighty percent (80%) of respondents reported that they do not engage in regular exercise or that their exercise frequency is infrequent. Forty-six (46%) percent of respondents indicated that they occasionally consume fruit in quantities ranging from 250 to 500 grams. More than half of the respondents indicated that they predominantly consume bread and pasta made with whole meal flour, whereas 28% reported not consuming bread and pasta at all. Additionally, 46% of patients occasionally utilize artificial sweeteners, while 57% reported occasional use of natural sweeteners. In conclusion, it can be asserted that enhancing the lifestyle and dietary practices of patients can effectively prevent the progression of the condition and the advancement to type 2 diabetes.

Lead (Pb) is a toxic element that easily accumulates in vegetables grown in contaminated areas, posing significant human health risks. In this study, spinach (Spinacia oleracea), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus), and potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) collected from private gardens across 6 locations in North Macedonia (36 biological samples in total) were analyzed. Three independent analytical replicates were prepared from each biological sample throughout all preparation steps (108 analytical replicates). Lead determination was performed using ICP-OES. Dietary intake was estimated using the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) DietEx tool across four scenarios, and the margin of exposure (MoE) was calculated for cardiovascular effects, nephrotoxicity, and developmental neurotoxicity, covering ten population groups. Spinach exhibited the highest total Pb concentrations, while maximum levels (MLs) were exceeded only in cucumbers at site S4. MoE values for developmental neurotoxicity in children and nephrotoxicity in adults indicated that the daily intakes exceeded the toxicological reference points (BMDL₀₁ and BMDL₁₀, respectively). Potatoes, carrots, and spinach were identified as the primary contributors to exposure. Overall, this study demonstrates that regulatory compliance does not guarantee safety, as significant health concerns remain for children in these regions despite Pb concentrations being below legal limits.