Abstract 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.

For hospital personnel, a number of harmful chemicals exist. The paper deal with very different harmful chemicals, but all chemicals are important and continuing problems where the risks to health, if uncontrolled, are serious. In the research was used descriptive statistical operations and multivariate statistical method, factor analysis (FA), i.e. principal component analysis (PCA). An analysis of 24 organic and inorganic parameters was performed. Results of the correlation analysis suggest that these pollutants pairs might have similar sources or have been affected by similar factors. PCA she confirmed that the mutually correlated elements constitute a group of elements with a similar origin.

Rapid science and technology development, as well as population growth and solving global problems require a different approach to considering and solving these problems by including many scientific disciplines or technologies. The growing amount of waste and unsystematic depletion of natural resources impose new concepts and tools in creating new environmental products. The existing linear economy, based on the ‘take, make and dispose’ principle, is being replaced by a new approach, the ‘circular economy’. A circular economy seeks to sustainably manage natural resources, extend product lifecycle and reduce waste. Some of the directions or tools in a circular economy are biomimicry and cradle to cradle. Biomimicry seeks to solve problems by imitating natural processes, while cradle to cradle tends to reduce waste using knowledge obtained from nature. Understanding of nature, its systems and cycles will provide analogies and models for creation of innovative solutions to global problems.

Research subjects of this study are four representative locations in the industrial complex, in the city of Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (∑16PAHs), humus and pH were determined. The main objective of the paper is to determine the concentration levels, to assess the probable sources of PAHs contamination in soil and groundwater and to determine the ecological risk. The ∑16PAHs in soil (at depths of 30 cm, 100 cm, 200 cm, 300 cm and 400 cm) ranged from 0.99 to 2.24 mg/kg, from 0.34 to 0.46, from 0.24 to 0.32, from 0.13 to 0.27 and from 0.13 to 0.47, with mean values of 1.70 mg/kg, 0.40 mg/kg, 0.28 mg/kg, 0.20 mg/kg and 0.26 mg/kg, respectively. The ∑16PAHs in groundwater ranged from 0.23 to 4.50 mg/m3, with a mean value of 1.42 mg/m3. Surface soil and groundwater are heavily contaminated. All values of ∑PAHs in soil layers were lower in the depths of the soil. 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. ∑PAH and PAHs indicate high ecological risk for most PAHs, which decreases with soil depth.

This paper investigates the impact of accidental release of propane gas in surrounding areas consequences of propane gas leak studying the negative effects on both the environment and individuals. Subject of the research is impact of accidental release of propane gas in in business zone “Ramići-Banja Luka”, Banja Luka. The ALOHA software has been used in this paper to modelling of propane release. The modelling was performed for an accidental release of 4,000 kg propane from unsheltered single storied for one hour. For a typical average atmospheric condition in location, this accidental propane release would cause a red zone of 101 metres (AEGL-3=33,000 ppm), orange zone of 159 metres (AEGL-2=17,000 ppm) and yellow zone of 324 metres (AEGL-1=5,500 ppm) to downwind from the source.

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.

Noise pollution may have negative impacts on human health and environmental. The primary aim ofthis study is was to determine and mapping the noise pollution in the urban part of the city Banja Lukain Bulevar Cara Dušana by evaluating noise levels in the boulevards. The aim of this investigation isalso compare measured noise levels in the boulevards with legislation. The measured values exceededthe level of noise allowed. Because they are at all measuring points at study area mixing two zones I(hospital, rehabilitation) and III (trading, business, housing and housing next to traffic corridors,warehouses excluding heavy transport) it can be concluded that the noise level values in this area arealarming.

Levels of SO2 in air samples from urban zone of Banja Luka were determined at locality Center inBanja Luka (administrative center of the Republic of Srpska, in Bosnia and Herzegovina) which ishighly populated area, with intensive traffic and industry. Through experimental measuring, daily andweekend variation of SO2 concentration was determined. Daily variations are directly connected toregime and intensity of traffic and using fossil fuels. The paper presents measured average values ofsulfur dioxide, together with max and min values and relationship between some parameters of airquality and meteorological parameters, i. e. for pollution modelling together with meteorologicalparameters.

Noise pollution, as a major environmental problem, is present in Banja Luka. The measured values exceeded the level of noise allowed, which is a great problem. Evaluation of the noise levels was carried out in the streets in the area with health institutions. Objectives of this research were to evaluate the environmental noise pollution in the City of Banja Luka due to traffic noise and to compare the measured noise levels in the city with legislation and to establish the connection between noise and the number of vehicles. Correlation between the noise level and number of vehicles was positive and significant during the study period (r=0.89). It is confirmed that, with the increase of the number of vehicle, the noise level increases, i.e. the decrease in the number of vehicle decreases the noise level.

The waste is a product of everyday human activities, and we are faced with large amounts of waste daily. Inadequate method of waste treatment effects are numerous: pollution of the environment and hazards to human health, the loss of useful components from waste, or the exploitation and consumption of natural resources. In the XXI century the sustainable management of municipal waste will become essential in all stages, from planning to construction, handling, recycling and final decomposition. Range of new and existing technologies for waste treatment and waste management strategies require the maintenance of environmental quality at the moment, but also the fulfillment of sustainability in the future. Integrated waste management should meet certain priorities in line with the waste hierarchy, such as requirements for recycling waste, to increase the use of renewable energy in order to looking for more socially acceptable options, and to preserve biodiversity and natural ecosystems simultaneously. Achieving these goals is possible only if all technical and non-technical aspects of solid waste management system are analyzed as a whole, because they are interrelated, and development in one area often influences the practice or activity in another area. Various analytical tools and methods are used to help in decision making in waste management systems. Analytical methods used in the waste management system can be classified into two groups: engineering models and models of assessment system.