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Based on the UNEP Food Waste Index Report 2021, approximately 931 million tons of food waste were generated in 2019, with nearly 570 million tons of that waste occurring in households. Hunger affects more than 800 million people worldwide. Furthermore, the non-consumption of food accounts for 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, food waste generation has significant environmental, societal, and economic consequences. The circular economy (CE) is an economic model that seeks to reduce waste and extend resource life. The purpose of this study is to examine and present the connections between the CE, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and food waste management. Food waste management is commonly regarded as an environmental issue. Still, it also offers vital economic and social benefits for sustainable development. The first section of the research looks at the function of food waste management in the transition to a circular economy. The second part of this study examines the SDGs in food waste management and circular economy. The findings revealed that the most significant connections and synergies between food waste management, circular economy practices, and SDG targets could be found in SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Both goals have high scores for direct and indirect contributions.

Today's business systems are faced with an increased intensity of changes from the environment, growing complexity and increased competition, which affects the increase in the level of risk in all areas of management and execution of business processes. Therefore, Risk Management (RM) discipline and practice is increasingly applied in almost all types of business systems. RM is the systematic approach of identifying, estimating and reducing threats or uncertainties that may influence organizations. This article presents the proposed model for monitoring and managing business risks, including strategic and operational goals, organizational responsibility and management, business performance, internal audit and internal control, application of information systems and the success of business processes. The research was conducted on a sample of 387 respondents, employed in manufacturing and service companies. The research results show that organizations that accept the proposed model have a chance to successfully manage risks in their business processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics have reached all corners of our planet, including soil and water. Plastic-degrading bacteria are seen as a promising, environmentally friendly tool for the bioremediation of soil polluted with microplastics. The petroleum origin of plastics makes them candidates for bioremediation analogous to the bioremediation of soil polluted with oil and its derivatives. A mud pit, located near the village of Turija, used for mud formation for the lubrication of drill pipes for drilling rigs, ended up polluted with oil and its derivatives. It was bioremediated using the in situ procedure. The content of n-hexane extractable substance, total petroleum hydrocarbon, dry substance, and loss on ignition were analyzed.

Mercury (Hg) and potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are components of household dust and are a risk for human health. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of Hg and PTEs in household dust in individual housing facilities in the town of Šid, Serbia and their correlation to the content of the elements found in the surrounding garden soil. Total of 64 samples of household dust were collected from 16 locations of individual housing facilities on 4 occasions. Samples of surrounding yard and garden soil were simultaneously collected. None of the 64 analysed soil samples exceeded the threshold limit (TL) prescribed by law for non-agricultural soil, which is 0.3 mg kg-1 DM. Content of Hg in household dust was much higher than in the surrounding soil and ranged from 0.005 to 1.566 mg kg-1 DM. The resulting values of PTEs (As, B, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in household dust had a significantly higher range than in the soil. Contents of Hg, B, Cu, and Zn were much higher in household dust than in the soil. According to the results of correlations of the analysed elements in household dust and surrounding soil, and according to the analysed locations, direct effect of Hg and PTEs contents on the content of the same elements in household dust was not confirmed.

The optimal conditions for the extraction of eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined using 32 factorial design of experiments (DOE). The independent variables were coded at three levels and their actual values were selected on the basis of the preliminary experimental results. DOE consisted of nine runs with three replicates at the central point. A second-order polynomial model was used for predicting the response. After the optimization of the duration of extraction, the ratio of solvents and purification and instrumental parameters, the optimized conditions were applied on the samples taken from the surface layer of soil from 24 potentially contaminated locations (landfills, ex marshalling yard, dump of secondary raw materials and automotive waste). The gas chromatographic analysis with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) was used for the determination of PBDEs. The recovery values of BDE congeners at five concentration levels ranged between 80% and 115%. The total PBDEs concentrations ranged from 4.4 to 729 μg kg-1 of absolutely dry soil. The suitability of the experiment was proved by comparing the experimental and predicted values of the variable parameters. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III 43010 and Grant no. 17619]

Paper provided the systematic data on the distribution and risk assess­ment status of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediment of the Tisza River (Serbia). The α-HCH, endrin ketone and methoxychlor are the most commonly found OCPs compounds. According to Serbian regulation concentrations of dieldrin, α-HCH, β-HCH and heptachlor were below limit values. In the Tisza River, sediment samples concentrations of aldrin, endrin, γ-HCH, endosulfans, heptachlor epoxide, p,p’-DDD, p,p’-DDE, p,p’-DDT were above limit values but below maximum concentration. Adverse effects are expected occasionally and slight potential health risks may exist to organisms based on the sediment quality guidelines. Upon exposure to organochlorine pesticides through non-dietary routes, results reported no potential cancer risk. The highest risk of cancer was through ingestion of contaminated sediments and minimal through inhalation routes. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 176006, Grant no. 176019 and Grant no. 43010]

This paper analyses setting up and functioning of legalized system for marijuana production, distribution, sales, both in medical and recreational purposes. The aim of this paper is to reflect hence possibilities for additional economic benefits for the Republic of Serbia, through practical examples of countries which had already completed such process. Based on analysis results of subject systems, possible project solution for implementation in Republic of Serbia is defined which is based on good practice of countries which had already finished this process.

Overuse of fertilizers can have harmful effects on the environment. The Nitrates Directive aims to protect water quality by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters and by promoting the use of good farming practices. The paper is based on research about agricultural producers' awareness about the impact of fertilizers overuse on the environment. Data were collected by face to face interviews with farm owners on 39 farms in Serbia. Analysis of the collected data showed that all farmers use fertilizers. It is important to notice that 79.4% of farmers use chemical fertilizers more than recommended, and 87.1% use organic fertilizers more than recommended. Furthermore, 66.6% of farmers do not know specific harmful pollution effects of nitrates on soil and water. 71.7% of farmers have not heard about the Nitrates Directive. Therefore, it can be concluded that farmers are not sufficiently aware of fertilizers impact on the environment and it is necessary to provide education on this.

After NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999, UNEP has identified Kragujevac as one of the four heavily polluted environmental "hot spots". Damaging of industrial and military targets caused the release of substantial amounts of hazardous chemical substances into the environment. This study was conducted in order to access the exposure of residents of Kragujevac city to persistent soil pollutants, twenty years after NATO air campaign. The paper reports the results of measuring radionuclides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg) in soil samples collected from two depths (0-15 cm and 15-30 cm) at 30 locations along the riverbank of the Lepenica River. The average specific activities of 226 Ra, 232 Th, 4 0 K and 137 Cs were comparable to average worldwide values; excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) from natural radionuclides ranged from 1.1·10 -4 to 3.3·10 -4 . The measured concentrations of As, Co, Cr, Cu, and Ni exceeded the limit values in most of the samples. Non-carcinogenic risk (hazard quotient and hazard index) and carcinogenic risk from heavy metals were assessed. Total hazard index was 0.257 and 2.16 for adults and children, respectively. Sum of measured PAHs ranged from 110 to 1026 μg kg -1 . Sum of PCBs exceeded the limit value of 20 μg kg -1 in all samples (it ranged from 48.8 to 196.8 μg kg -1 ), but it was still below the remediation level. The differences between two layers with respect to all measured variables were not statistically significant., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interests None., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite the existence of a legislation regarding food contaminants, food safety control in Serbia is a matter of great concern. This study investigates the radioactivity levels and heavy metal concentrations in fish and seafood commercially available in Serbian markets. Domestic fish species (caught in the Danube River) and fishery products imported from Europe, Asia and America were analyzed. The content of natural radionuclides and 137 Cs were investigated by gamma spectrometry. Activity concentration of 40  K was measured in the range of 44-165 Bq kg -1 ; low levels of 137 Cs were detected in two samples (2.8 and 3.0 Bq kg -1 ), while concentrations of 226 Ra and 232 Th were below minimal detectable values. Concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Hg and Pb) were determined using ICP-OES method. Cd concentration ranged from 0.01 to 0.81 mg kg -1 in sea fish and from 0.01 to 0.03 mg kg -1 in freshwater fish. Hg concentrations were in the range of 0.01-1.47 mg kg -1 ; the highest value was measured in the predator fish - shark. The highest level of Pb (6.56 mg kg -1 ) was detected in a blue sea fish (Atlantic mackerel). The health risks associated with the intake of heavy metals and radionuclides via fish consumption were evaluated. The results indicate that fish and seafood consumption do not pose a significant health concern in the case of the usual consumption rate which is typical for the population of Serbia. However, a highly frequent consumption of fishery products can have adverse health effects, especially due to Hg and Pb contamination., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)