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Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements, but they are regarded as significant environmental pollutants due to their high density and high toxicity even at low concentrations. The aim of this paper is the evaluation of the pollution level of heavy metals in the river and riverbank sediments, as well as the estimation of their origin and spatial differences along the course of the Vrbas River through Banja Luka. The concentrations of metals have been assessed using the Inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry and Advanced mercury analyzer for mercury determination. The anthropogenic impact on heavy metal concentration in sediments was estimated by the calculating of pollution indices: geoaccumulation index (Igeo ), contamination factor (Cf ), pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (Er). Obtained results indicate that there is no statistically significant spatial difference in metal concentration, indicating that heavy metals in sediments have a constant source. The anthropogenic impact expressed by the values of pollution indices showed that sites are generally uncontaminated by Co, Cr and V and moderately contaminated by Zn, Cu and Ni. On the contrary, lead, mercury and cadmium pose the highest ecological risk. The anthropogenic source of Pb, Hg and Cd is industry, municipal waste and the combustion of fossil fuels. The obtained results demonstrate the high ecological risk and the need for environmental monitoring, with the aim to support an efficient strategy to reduce local pollution and contamination of the investigated system. Тешки метали су елементи природног порекла, али се сматрају значајним полутантима животне средине због велике густине и токсичности, чак и при малим концентрацијама. Циљ овог рада је процена нивоа загађености речних и приобалних седимената тешким металима, као и процена њиховог порекла и просторне расподеле дуж тока реке Врбас кроз Бањалуку. Концентрације тешких метала одређиване су помоћу индуктивно спрегнуте плазме – оптичке емисионе спектрометрије и наменског живиног анализатора. Антропогени утицај на концентрацију тешких метала у седиментима процењен је израчунавањем различитих индекса загађења: индекса геоакумулације (Igeo),фактора контаминације (Cf), индекса оптерећења загађењем (PLI) и индекса потенцијалног еколошког ризика (Er). Добијени резултати указују да не постоје статистички значајне просторне разлике у концентрацији метала, што указује на то да тешки метали у испитиваним седиментима имају константан извор. Антропогени утицај изражен у вредностима индекса загађења показао је да су локације генерално незагађене кобалтом, хромом и ванадијумом, а умерено загађене цинком, бакром и никлом. С друге стране, кадмијум, жива и олово представљају највећи еколошки ризик. Антропогени извори ових метала су индустрија, комунални отпад и сагоревање фосилних горива. Добијени резултати показују висок еколошки ризик и потребу за мониторингом животне средине, подржавајући развој ефикасне стратегије за смањење локалног загађења и загађења испитиваног подручја.

The main objective of this study was to analyze the capacity of Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière 1855 to accumulate macro- and microelements in order to assess the environmental status. The element concentrations were measured using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The obtained pH values in this study show that the urban soils are neutral to slightly alkaline with low OM content. Macroelements with the highest mean concentrations in soil are Si, Al, Fe, K, Mg, and Ca. The ratio > 2 was determined for mean concentrations of Ca in the soil and Mg in needles from the Zvezdara forest, and for mean concentrations of Cl, Ti, and Fe in needles from the Byford’s forest in relation to the reference site. The accumulation pattern of the macroelements based on the Biological Concentration Factor (BCF) values > 1 for needles is for P, S, Cl, and Ca. Microelements with the highest mean values in soil are Ba, Zr, Ce, Cr, Zn, Rb, Sr, V, and La. Microelements with the highest mean values in Atlas cedar needles are Ce, La, Ba, and Cs. The ratio > 2 was determined for Cr and V concentrations in the needles from the Byford’s and Zvezdara forests and for Cu concentrations in needles from the Byford’s forest in relation to the reference site. The accumulation pattern of the microelements based on the BCF for needles is higher for I, Cs, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, and Tl. Since differences in the concentrations of macro- and microelements in the urban areas and the reference site can be identified C. atlantica can be recommended for assessing the environmental status.

The main objectives of this research were to (i) investigate the concentration; (ii) characterize the distribution; (iii) determine the sources apportionment; (iv) estimate environmental and health risks of heavy metals in soil from mountain beech forest. A total of 76 soil samples from 20 pure beech forest stands from Bosnia and Her- zegovina (BA), Bulgaria (BG), Check Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Italy (IT), Poland (PL), Romania (RO), Serbia (RS), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SL), and Spain (ES) were collected. The content of major elements was measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The content of heavy metals was measured by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). Heavy metals had a specific concentration range, which fol- lowed in soil samples from depth 0–40 cm the common order (low to high): Hg < Cd < As < Co < Pb < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn, and from depth 40–80 cm: Hg < Cd < As < Pb < Co < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn. The grouping of the examined parameters according to rock types, soil types, and localities indicated the separation of carbonate rocks from other substrates, luvisol, and rendzina from other soil types, and samples from BA, SL, and IT from other localities. According to sources apportionment As, Pb and Zn are of anthropogenic origin, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni are of geogenic origin, while the middle position of Cu and Hg indicates a combined contribution of both sources. Elements Cd and Hg indicated severe to extremely severe enrichment with a mean value of 24.3 and 70.6, respectively. Based on the determined values Ni, Cr, As and Cd do not pose a health risk.

Purpose The Great War Island (GWI) is a landform of exceptional features and a protected area located in the center of Belgrade at the Sava and Danube River’s confluence. The position of GWI causes a large number of possible hydrocar- bons inputs that influence the quality of both river waters and sediments. The main objective of this research is to assess the distribution and source of hydrocarbons in sediments deposited at the GWI depending on the river’s flow regimes and depositional environment. Material and methods Sediment samples were collected from 16 sites (11 sites along the GWI’s coast, 4 sites from the inner of the Island, and 1 specific wetland site). The grain size was determined using a standard wet sieving procedure. The extractable organic matter (OM) was quantified after Soxhlet extraction, and aliphatic and aromatic fractions were isolated by column chromatography. n-Alkanes, diterpanes, terpanes, steranes, and 16 PAHs are analyzed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry. Results and discussion Sand fraction predominates in coastal samples, and clay size fraction in the samples from the inner island environment. The predominance of odd higher n-alkanes indicates the terrestrial origin of OM, while the distribution of lower n-alkanes indicates a certain proportion of algae, bacteria, and/or high maturity of OM. The presence of oil-type pollutants is confirmed by thermodynamically stable biomarker isomers and/or the presence of unresolved complex mixture (UCM). Inner island samples are characterized by the largest amount of Corg (up 6%), indicating high bioproductivity and good preservation of OM. Samples from wetland environment are distinguished by the domination of pimaranes and phyl- locladanes among saturated hydrocarbons. Conclusions This study revealed that sediments of the GWI mainly contain native OM with a certain anthropogenic input. The native OM predominately comes from higher terrestrial plants (Salix alba, Populus nigra, Fraxinus viridis, Taxodium distichum Rich.), followed by various types of grasses, macrophytes (Salvinia natans, Nymphaea alba), bacteria, algae, and phytoplankton. Anthropogenic OM originates from petroleum, but also combustion products arrived by deposition from the air and runoff.

Human activities have changed ecosystems and today ≈ 60% of the world’s ecosystems are already degraded. These changes have caused growing environmental costs, including biodiversity loss and land degradation, which in turn has resulted in many economic, social and cultural losses. Protected areas (PAs) are the key tool in biodiversity conservation, moreover they may help to maintain water supplies and food security, strengthen climate resilience and improve human health and well-being. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defined PA as „a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated, and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services (ES) and cultural values”. Such areas represent Earth systems in which influence of human interactions with preserved ecosystems are readily evident. The coverage of PA is a widely used indicator of sustainable development, because the loss of biodiversity is recognized as one of the most serious global environmental threats. The “Big Five” threats to global biodiversity are fragmentation, habitat loss, overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, and the spread of invasive alien species. New interventions for governing nature are captured by the umbrella of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the European Union (EU) policy context. NBS can offer accessible, sustainable, and feasible benefits via a range of areas affecting public health and social well-being. According to IUCN NBS are defined as “actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits”. NBS address these societal challenges over the delivery of ES. The main objective of this study is to use the effect of NBS to enhance the sustainability of management of the PAs that would have environmental, social and economic benefits. The methodology includes determination of heavy metals in soils and needles of Picea alba, and quantification and qualification of PAs benefits based on Protected Areas Benefits Assessment Tool + (PA-BAT+) in six sites: Zlatibor, Golija, Tara, Đerdap, Stara planina, and Fruška gora. Zlatibor, Golija, and Stara planina are protected as a Nature Park – protected areas of international, national, i.e., exceptional importance Category I (first) in accordance with the Law on Nature Protection ("Off. Gazette of RS", No. 36/2009, 88/2010 , 91/2010 and 14/2016). By the decision of the UNESCO commission within the MAB program in 2001, Golija was declared as Biosphere Reserve ”Golija - Studenica”. Tara, Đerdap, and Fruška gora are protected as National Parks – protected area of international, national, i.e., exceptional importance Category I (first) in accordance with the Law on National Parks ("Off. Gazette of RS", No. 39/1993, 44/1993-correction, 53/1993, 67/1993, 48/1994, 101/2005 and 36/2009). According to categorization of the IUCN Zlatibor, Golija, and Stara planina are classified in Category V, while Tara, Đerdap, and Fruška gora are classified in Category II. Based on heavy metals content in soils and needles, different interventions in managed ecosystems are proposed.

1 79 51 72 M20 М23 geochemical and mineralogical study was performed on lignite samples from the Upper Miocene Kovin deposit, hosting three coal seams. The Kovin lignite is characterized by high moisture content, medium to high ash yield, medium to high sulphur content and a relatively low gross and net calorific value. The mineralogical composition, and major and trace element contents were determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive Xray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The most abundant minerals in all lignite samples from the three coal seams are clays (illite/smectite), silicates (quartz, plagioclase), sulphates (gypsum/anhydrite) and carbonate (calcite). The other iron-rich minerals are sulphides, oxides and hydroxides (pyrite, magnetite, haematite, and limonite). In general, mineral matter in the matrix coal consists of illite/smectite and quartz, while xylite-rich coals, apart from illite/smectite, have a higher content of sulphates and Fe-oxide/hydroxide minerals. The lignite from the Kovin deposit is enriched in As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ga, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, Zn, Gd, Tb, Er and Lu in comparison with the Clarke values for brown coals. The statistical analysis of bulk compositional data shows inorganic affinity for the majority of the major and trace elements and possible association with pyrite, illite/smectite and calcite.