The main objectives of waste management are environmental preservation, the safeguarding of human health, and natural resources conservation. Material flow analysis/ substances flow analysis (MFA/SFA) method takes into account the consideration of the “metabolic” system of waste management, which means monitoring waste flows and substances within the model for waste management, and examining all inputs and outputs in the system, as well as their evaluation and comparison. Modeled scenarios in the Banjaluka region of the Republic of Srpska (RS) were developed in accordance with both the European Union (EU) and RS legislation, as well as relevant municipal waste management strategic documents. Modeled municipal solid waste (MSW) management scenarios are compared with the current waste management system. Using MFA/SFA (waste flow, carbon, and nitrogen), a complete view of flow, transformations, and final waste disposal and substances in modeled scenarios of waste management is realized. Results of this study suggest that in the future, more activity should be based on the separate collection and recycling, compared to the current, inadequate MSW management system that is based only on the disposal of waste. The combination of material and substance flows analyses is an effective tool in the decision-making process for the development and improvement of MSW management.

Soil samples were collected near the thermal power plant and coal mine (Gacko, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and analyzed to measure the concentration of 16 toxic metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Hg, As, Mo, Co, Ba, V, Tl, B, S and F). The pollutant with the highest mean concentration was B (3,210.02 mg/kg), followed by the Ba (242 mg/kg), Zn (109.50 mg/kg), V (90 mg/kg), Ni (82.10 mg/kg), Cr (60.22 mg/kg), Cu (46.28 mg/kg), Pb (38.90 mg/kg) and Co (19.25 mg/kg). From the evaluation of the soil pollution indices (contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), ecological risk assessment (ERI), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and degree of soil load), it can be seen that the studied soil samples in most cases are contaminated. CF values indicate that all values for Cu, Co, Ba and Va in all samplers, Ni in three samplers and Zn in one sampler indicate a moderate degree of contamination. In all soil samples, the values PLI indicates the presence of soil pollution. This study reveals that Ni for RI index is the toxic metal that poses the highest ecological threat. In according average values for Igeo for all toxic metals are >5, it can be concluded that the soil belongs to the class “extremely polluted”. The values of degree of soil load for Ba and V load show that V class is a land of very high load (limit values in according of national legislation for Ba is 160 mg/kg and for V is 42 mg/kg). Values for Ni load show that IV class is a land of high loads (limit value 35 mg/kg). In accordance with the obtained results, it is necessary to prioritize the work on sustainable solutions to mitigate the current risks.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed from anthropogenic activities, i.e. industrial emissions, incomplete combustion of petroleum, coal and other fossil fuels and other industrial and domestic activities. Research areas of this study are four representative locations in the industrial complex, in the city of Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main objective of the paper is to determine the ecological risk and to assess probable sources of PAHs contamination in soil and groundwater. The results of this study reflect the effects of coal combustion (pyrogenic origin), petrogenic and biomass origin and may provide basic data for the remediation of PAHs in the location. The ecological risk in soil (at depths of 30, 100, 200, 300 and 400 cm) and groundwater is determined. The mean values of ecological risk in soil and groundwater decreased with soil depth. Values of RQ _(NCs) for groundwater were found at high ecological risk, for Ant, Chr, DahA, Acy, Pyr, BaA, Phe, Flo, Nap, Ace and Fluo, with values 28.57, 20.59, 300.00, 242.86, 185.71, 1700.0, 76.67, 53.33, 15.83, 100.00 and 57.14, respectively. ∑16PAH indicated high ecological risk for most PAHs, which decreased with soil depth. The value of RQ _(NCs) for ΣPAHs in groundwater indicates high ecological risk (ΣPAHs ≥ 800 and RQ _(MPCs) ≥ 1). This is the first study on the ecological risk of PAHs in soil and groundwater in industrial soils in Banja Luka and provides baseline information for further studies and additional investigations of this industrial complex.

Soil samples were collected in an industrial area (Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and analyzed the concentration of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The total concentration of 16 PAHs in surface soil varied within the range of 0.599-2.848 mg/kg and in deeper layer soil samples 0.041-0.320 mg/kg. Two basic sources of PAHs at this location are: pyrogenic and petrogenic sources. Benzo(a)pyrene toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) were used to calculate BaPeq in order to evaluate carcinogenic risk of soil contamination with PAHs. The total BaPeq of seven carcinogenic PAHs in surface soil and deeper soil layer were in the range 23.270-368.63 μg/kg (mean of 151.223 μg/kg), and 15.71-80.24 μg/kg, (mean of 48.08 μg/kg), respectively. These indicated that PAHs in this industrial soil presented relatively high toxicity potential. This study identifies the concentration and estimation of the potential cancer risk caused by contact with soils for adults, adolescents and children. In accordance with the estimated values of incremental life cancer risks (ILCRs), the cancer risk resulting from contact with the contaminated surface soil should be considered high (total ILCR>10-3). The results suggest that current PAHs concentration highly carcinogenic and may hold a serious health risk for local residents and employees.

This study examined the concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil and groundwater at a former cellulose factory in the city of Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The objective of the study was to determine the concentrations of 16 PAHs in soil and groundwater at the site. The research area consisted of four representative locations in the industrial complex where the soil was sampled at depths of 0.3, 1, 2, 3, and 4 m and groundwater was sampled at 3.10, 2.50 and 3 m for two samples. In addition to the 16 PAHs, soil organic matter content and pH were also measured. The sum of the 16 PAHs (Σ16PAHs) in soil ranged from 0.99 to 2.24, 0.34 to 0.46, 0.24 to 0.32, 0.13 to 0.27 and 0.13 to 0.47 mg/kg for the 0.3, 1, 2, 3, and 4 m depths, respectively. Mean values were 1.70, 0.40, 0.28, 0.20 and 0.26 mg/kg, respectively. The Σ16PAHs in groundwater ranged from 0.23 to 4.50 mg/m3, with a mean value of 1.42 mg/m3. The concentrations of all 16 PAHs in the soil decreased with depth and there was no significant correlation between the concentrations of PAHs in the soil and groundwater. The concentrations of PAHs in the soil surface (0.3 m) and groundwater indicate that this industrial site is heavily contaminated and might need remedial action. Factor analysis indicates three sources of contamination, i.e. principal component (PC) PC1 (pyrogenic), PC2 (petrogenic) and PC3 (biomass), with 52.39%, 26.14% and 8.46% of the total variance, respectively. The results of this study reflect the effects of coal combustion (pyrogenic origin), petrogenic and biomass origin and may provide basic data for the remediation of PAHs in the location.