The study presents an in-depth analysis of the impact of noise from mining operations, focusing on the spatial distribution of noise levels and their compliance with regulatory limits. Utilizing advanced modeling and visualization techniques, it demonstrates effective noise management strategies that ensure compliance with national regulations. Findings highlight the importance of integrating environmental assessments and technological innovations in mitigating noise pollution, underscoring the mining industry’s commitment to sustainable practices and community well-being. This research contributes valuable insights into environmental management, offering a model for balancing industrial activities with ecological and health considerations. Key findings emphasize the significance of integrating environmental assessments and technological innovations to mitigate noise pollution, showcasing the mining industry’s commitment to sustainable practices and community well-being. The study underlines the importance of noise management strategies that align with national regulations to protect both the environment and public health. Using advanced modeling and visualization techniques, the research offers valuable insights into environmental management, presenting a model for balancing industrial activities with ecological and health considerations. It contributes significantly to the understanding of noise pollution in the mining sector, proposing effective solutions for its control. This work is grounded in a broad review of literature on environmental pollution and specific studies on noise pollution’s effects on health, highlighting the broader context of industrial and urban noise sources. It presents a detailed analysis of noise levels around a specific mining operation, including modeling and visualization of noise propagation and its impact on surrounding residential areas. The conclusion drawn from this study is that through strategic planning, technological interventions, and adherence to regulations, mining operations can effectively mitigate noise pollution. This ensures that noise levels remain within acceptable limits, thereby minimizing their impact on nearby communities and contributing to a safer and more sustainable mining environment.

Although often presented as a revolutionary innovation, the circular economy is not a new idea. It is another reconciliation and compromise between economic and environmental problems expressed by the terms "sustainable growth", "green growth" and "sustainable development". The various strategies aimed at prolonging the use of resources gathered under the banner of the circular economy are not individually new, and if the concept offers any novelty, it is by offering a new framing of these strategies, as well as the possibility of connecting them. The circular economy is built on a heterogeneous collection of scientific and semi-scientific concepts, such as: ecological economy, industrial ecology, cradle-to-cradle design, blue economy, biomimicry, ecological efficiency, cleaner production, etc. Over a hundred definitions of circularity can be found in the literature, which means that the term means different things to different people. This could be because the concept and its application were almost exclusively developed and led by practitioners, i.e. policy makers, companies, business consultants, business associations, business foundations, etc. The result is a perception that the circular economy does not address the ontological and epistemological questions, such as what counts as ethical value, that underlie the complex and interconnected environmental, social and economic issues we face today. It's really easier to say what the circular economy isn't than to say what it is. The circular economy "is not a theory but a new approach to industrial production and consumption." Rather, it is a multiplicity, an umbrella concept that generates enthusiasm because it seemingly provides a new framework capable of solving many problems, but comes under increased scrutiny when attempts at operationalization surface unresolved questions about its definition. The variety of meanings given to the circular economy may explain the appeal of the term, but it also makes it difficult to know what it is really about. The main advantage of the circular economy is the optimal method of production in various industrial sectors: (1) It implies the lowest possible level of waste material that can no longer be recycled, (2) Each activity of the production process produces the smallest possible amount of waste for a specific activity. The key shortcomings of the circular economy are: (1) It is much more expensive to produce a long-lasting product than a larger quantity of equivalent disposable products,(2)- He does not pay attention to people as factors of production.

Due to increasingly pronounced climate changes and intensified anthropogenic impacts on the environment, on one hand, and global economic growth and exploitation of scarce natural resources, on the other hand, there is a need to find a compromise solution that would ensure long-term, sustainable economic development. One of the optimal possibilities in this context is the development approach of the circular economy. This approach offers a sustainable response to environmental challenges by promoting principles such as waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. The circular economy finds its application in numerous sectors of economic activity, such as industry, agriculture, energy, water resource management, and others. The implementation of the circular economy involves meeting the four basic economic principles (4E): economy, efficiency, effectiveness, and the latest ecological principle. The realization of the basic principles of the circular economy includes various techniques for transforming natural resource management, i.e., maximizing the utility of available materials while minimizing waste production. In this context, technological innovations play a crucial role in enhancing the development of circular economic processes. New technologies are thus a prerequisite for increasing economic efficiency while simultaneously reducing the ecological footprint of the entire social community. Through examples from around the world, the chapter illustrates specific cases where the circular economy has already had a visible impact on reducing local pollution, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, managing industrial and agricultural waste, preserving water flows and soil, and protecting air quality. It also considers the challenges and potential solutions in implementing circular strategies in these areas. Furthermore, the role of international cooperation and the development of political frameworks that favor the expansion and adoption of circular initiatives are analyzed. The discussion is based on creating comprehensive strategies that connect different societal actors and create an efficient system of long-term sustainability and socio-economic stability. From all the above, it implies that the circular economy is a key tool for achieving long-term sustainable development, whose active application counteracts climate change and protects the planet for future generations.

Water is a unique and irreplaceable natural resource of limited quantities and uneven spatial and temporal distribution. All life forms and all human activities are more or less related to water, clearly showing the importance of the relationship with water. It is a necessary resource in households as drinking water, washing and food preparation, in agriculture for irrigation, and in industry it plays an important role in almost all industrial processes. Economic development and urbanization lead, on the one hand, to a large increase in water demand, and on the other hand to the threat to water resources and the aquatic environment. Water can thus become a limiting factor in development, a threat to human health and the sustainability of natural ecosystems. Until recently, there was a centuriesold illusion of water inexhaustibility, and the concept of minimum investments for the purification of used water and water protection in general appeared. Much of the water used is not purified before it is discharged into watercourses and thus pollutes the water mass and reduces the resources of drinking water. Providing enough drinking water is one of the world's most important issues today. Therefore, it is especially important for every society to balance these relations and devise policies and strategies for the regulation, exploitation and protection of water resources.

The problem of air pollution has been a challenge for modern humanity in recent times. The environment, including the air, is burdened by a large amount of pollutants that are released into the environment. The atmosphere contains primary and secondary pollutants, emitted as basic or specific pollutants. Air pollution is present in industrial areas and larger cities, with the fact that there are no areas without any impact of air pollution. Air pollution is also present in the Republic of Srpska, as is the case in other areas. Areas of increased pollution in Republic of Srpska, with high concentrations of pollution, can further worsen the impact on the population and lead to unwanted health effects.

Waste is a by-product of human activities and living. With the increase in the number of inhabitants, the standard of living and urbanization, the quantities of municipal waste are increasing day by day. Every segment of waste management starting from generation, through collection, storage, transport, treatment and disposal can pose a potential hazard to human health and the environment. Waste management in Republic of Srpska is organized at the regional level. Since only waste disposal is still present in the Republic of Srpska, the regional approach implies that there is a landfill on the territory of one of the local self-government units, where all local self-government units in the region dispose of waste. In addition, waste disposal in illegal and unregulated landfills is still evident. LGUs or utility companies often face a lack of money to organize waste collection, with the result that not all households are covered by waste collection. In recent years, a lot has been invested in infrastructure, such as the filling of containers and containers and the purchase of new or newer used waste collection vehicles. Future directions of improving the waste management system in Republic of Srpska must go in the direction of sustainable waste management, ie waste management in a way to reduce the negative impact on human health and the environment, as well as avoiding leaving this problem to future generations.

Lifestyles develop throughout the life, but adolescence and early youth are important stages in acquiring healthy lifestyles habits. This is also vulnerable period for substance misuse, worsened diet habits and sedentary lifestyles linked to academic activities and responsible for developing non communicable diseases (NCD). Goal of the article is to analyse lifestyles habits and risk factors for developing NCD among students of health sciences. Study is conducted at the University Apeiron, Faculty of Health Sciences among students from first to fourth years of study. Specially designed questionnaire was prepared and distributed on line, anonymously and voluntary fulfilled by students. Every fifth student is smokers, 5,1% consume alcohol daily, more males (12,1%) than females (2,9%) (p0,05). Majority of males (42,2%) consumed alcohol drinks in one occasion during previous month, statistically more than females (21.2%) (p0,05). More than two third of students eat fruits and vegetables daily and one third have regular meals. Moderate physical active are 42,3% of students, and physical inactive are more females than males (p0,05). Risk factors for NCD have to be prevented with supportive policies in school environment and community. Students of health sciences should be a positive model of changing risk habits for NCD and saving future quality of life.

Medicinal plants play a major role in the development of human cultures. Medicinal plants are a rich source of phytochemical compounds, which have proven therapeutic efficacy throughout the ages. The therapeutic efficacy is attributed to those secondary biologically active compounds. Plants have provided the human being with all his needs of food, drink, and clothing. In addition they are an important source for the treatment of many diseases being the basis of the science of alternative medicine, In recent times, the area cultivated for these medicinal plants has increased, and scientific research has tended to study the effectiveness of these plants in treating many diseases. Most plants have an effective effect as an antioxidant, anti-hyperlipidemia, hypoglycemic, antihypertensive as well as for cardiovascular diseases and strokes. The study aims to provide important data on the extent to which some medicinal plants are used in the treatment of various diseases.

Self-rated health is associated with health behaviour and socio-demographic and socio-economic conditions on the way that health risks and poor socio-economic status determine poor self-rated health. The aim of the study was to determine self-rated health among students, perceive health behaviour risk and association with socio-demographic and socio-economic characteristics of students. Methods: Study is conducted as a cross-sectional study among students of health sciences in autumn semester 2022. Year. Specially designed questionnaire was constructed based on international guidelines. Anonymously filling out an on line formed questionnaire by voluntary singing on university web site. Results: More than three quarter of students perceived their health as a good and no one perceived health as a poor. Most students perceived their health as good (83,2%), mainly students with a technical background and those who are living in good socio-economic conditions (89,0%) (p0,05). The most frequent health risks among students are lack of physical activity (44,5%) and less than six hours for sleep and rest (43,8%). More than a third of students perceived fear, nervousness and tension (34,3%), a lack of time for friendship and family (33,6%) and irregular diet (31,4%). Every seventh student perceived overweight and obesity. Students who are living in poor socio-economic conditions perceived more health risks as well as those who don’t have medical background and who are employed. More students in urban area perceived mental problems than those in rural areas. Conclusion: Students are mainly perceived their health as a good and have health risks which will be reduced through health promotion in university educational programmes.

Uncontrolled acetylene release during production processes, transportation, or storage can lead to explosions and detonations endangering safety of people and material assets. This paper investigates the impact of accidental release of acetylene gas in surrounding areas. The ALOHA software has been used in this paper to modelling of acetylene release. The modelling was performed for an accidental release of 2,000 kg acetylene from direct source for one minute. F or a typical average atmospheric condition in location, this accidental acetylene release would cause a red zone of 197 m (15,000 ppm) and yellow zone of 483 m (2,500 ppm) to downwind from the source. Inadequate storage can lead to accidental situations and negative impact on people and the environment.

Air pollution is a major problem for the environment and human health. As a component of the environment (the Earth’s sphere), air, that is, the atmosphere, represents the basis of life on Earth. The composition of the air is mostly unchanged, except in the case of air pollution, which represents one of the significant environmental problems of modern times. In the past, pollution was caused by natural sources, while today the source of pollution is mostly of an anthropogenic character. Air pollution with basic and specific pollutants is present, especially in the areas of larger and industrial cities. The sources of pollutants in the air are numerous, and pollutants are found in all places where people live. In addition to air pollution of ambient air, it is also necessary to point out air pollution in closed spaces, especially work environments. Areas of increased pollution, with high concentrations of pollution, can have a negative impact on the population and lead to unwanted health problems. In recent decades, the high level of air pollution has been particularly pronounced, both at the global level and in the Republic of Srpska. Air pollution requires the involvement of society as a whole in solving this problem. The proposed revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directive will set interim European Union (EU) air quality standards for 2030, more closely aligned with World Health Organization guidelines, while putting the EU on a path to achieve zero air pollution by 2050 at the latest in synergy with climate and climate neutrality. The aforementioned Directive has significant improvements, but it will not completely solve the problem of air pollution or reduce to a greater extent the consequences of air pollution on the health of citizens. Air pollution cannot be solved quickly. The implementation of the new revised directive will be a challenge for the EU, and when all provisions of the directive are transposed into the national legislation of the Republic of Srpska, the application of all provisions will be very demanding and complex, with a number of problems in its application.

The municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill is recognized as an anthropogenic source of air pollutants that can have a negative impact on human health and the environment. Workers who work at the MSW landfill may be exposed to risk due to the inhalation of substances such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Although VOCs account for 1% in landfill gas, they are important because of the high level of toxicity associated with them. Regular monitoring of air quality and risk assessment provides important information in protecting the health of workers at the landfill. This study focuses on a health risk assessment related to VOCs (benzene, toluene and xylene) exposure via inhalation for workers at a landfill Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Additionally, cancer risk and non-cancer risk of benzene, toluene and xylene of workers indicated that occupational exposures were above recommended standard. This implies that landfill workers are exposed to a significant health risk associated with inhalation exposure to VOCs

Waste disposal is just one of the segments in solid municipal waste management system. During the entire life cycle of waste, starting from waste generation, through storage, collection, transport, recycling, treatment and disposal, several different pollutants are emitted. By disposing solid waste, non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) emits various pollutants into the air such as CO2, CO, NMVOC, PM, PAHs, heavy metals, etc. These substances can pose certain problems for human health and the environment. The subject of this study is the calculation of air emissions of CO2, CH4, N2O, NMVOC, PM10, CO, Cd, Cr and PAHs (chrysene and benz[a]anthracene) from NRMM which are included in the activities of receiving and disposing of waste at the Banja Luka landfill. The study evaluates the emission of pollutants using the EEA guidelines for the assessment of the emission of pollutants into the air, based on the consumption of diesel fuel during the year. This study, which is based on the calculation of NRMM emissions at the Banja Luka landfill, should serve as an example not only to other landfills but also to sectors that use NRMM on the importance of keeping track of pollutant emissions. The goal is to look at these emissions and introduce changes and improvements in this sector by replacing old NRMMs with new ones, optimizing operation, using diesel of satisfactory quality, etc.

. Water 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 33 parameters (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, alkalinity as CaCO 3 , total hardness as CaCO 3 , total solids, total suspended matter, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand with permanganate, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, P, PAH, PCBs, phenolic index, mineral oils, detergents, content of As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mn and Pb, sulfates, chlorides, fluorides, aerobic organotrophs, total coliforms, fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci). Determined average mean pH values and EC are within the reference values for class I surface water quality. The surface water in the study area is alkaline, with a mean pH value of 8.01. Depending on the location, other analyzed parameters correspond from I to V water quality classes. The ERI for As, Cd, Cr and Pb is low and for Mn is appreciable. The RI of the surface water in location 1 and 2 were moderate. In other locations, risk coefficients are low.