乌鲁木齐市地表灰尘中微量元素空间分布与来源解析

为研究典型绿洲城市地表灰尘中微量元素的污染及来源,在新疆乌鲁木齐市采集83个地表灰尘样品,测定As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Mn、Ni、Pb与Zn等9种微量元素含量,采用地质累积指数法评价地表灰尘中微量元素污染水平,基于地理信息系统(GIS)技术与地统计法分析微量元素空间分布格局,并利用多元统计分析法分析地表灰尘中微量元素的主要来源。结果表明,乌鲁木齐市地表灰尘中Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb和Zn分别为新疆土壤背景值的2.00、1.35、1.38、8.24、1.28、2.09、3.26倍。地表灰尘中Hg呈现中度污染,Cd、Pb和Zn呈现轻微污染,As、Cr、Cu、Mn和Ni呈现无污染。研究区地表灰尘中各微量元素的空间分布格局各不相同。从污染来源来看,研究区地表灰尘中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb与Zn来源主要受到人为污染源的影响,Mn来源主要受到土壤地球化学特征的控制。     

浙江大学环境与资源学院

浙江大学环境与资源学院下设环境科学系、环境工程系、资源科学系,拥有环境影响评价研究室、环境科学研究所、环境污染控制技术研究所、环境保护研究所、环境工程研究所、环境生态工     

杭州市大气降尘重金属污染特征及来源研究

于2006年6月至2009年6月期间,在杭州市主城区7个采样点对大气降尘进行采集,并对10种重金属元素含量进行了分析。结果表明:重金属元素Cu、Cd、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn、Co、Al、Fe、Mo质量浓度分别为223.6、15.6、741.1、27.8、363.7、1 820.4、7.0、8 982.4、21 149.0、13.4mg/kg;各功能区差异较大,半山(工业区)Fe、Mn、Pb、Zn浓度较高,江城立交(交通枢纽)Cu、Cd浓度较高。富集因子评价结果表明,Cd、Mo、Pb、Zn、Cu富集程度较高,受到不同程度人为污染。主因子分析结果显示,Mn、Fe可能来自钢铁冶炼及机械制造;Cu、Cd可能来自交通源;Zn、Mo可能来自相关的冶炼加工及合金工业;Ni、Co可能由煤和石油等化石燃料燃烧排放;Pb来自工业排放;Al主要来自地壳。     

沼液中臭味物质的去除方法及其对营养物质的影响

采用臭氧曝气法、粉末活性炭吸附法、颗粒活性炭过滤法、臭氧曝气-粉末活性炭吸附联用法、空气曝气-粉末活性炭吸附联用法对沼液中的氨气、硫化氢、吲哚、挥发酚类等主要致嗅物质的去除情况进行了研究,同时分析了不同方法对沼液中营养物质TN、DN、TP、DP等的影响。结果表明,采用粉末活性炭吸附法处理沼液,臭味物质的去除情况以及营养物质的保留效果最好,当粉末活性炭投加量为15 000 mg/L时,沼液中的硫化氢、吲哚、挥发酚已经完全去除,氨氮、氨气的去除率分别为11.42%、13.98%;DN、DP含量分别减少了10.46%、19.53%,但是TN、TP含量分别增加了6.26%、9.63%。     

六种“药茶”配方

(1)明目茶:冬桑叶、野菊花,可疏散风热、平肝明目,用于结膜炎。(2)活血茶:红花、檀香,可活血化瘀止痛,用于冠心病、心胶痛。(3)降压茶:菊花、槐花、草决明,可平肝降压、软化血管,用于高血压病、动脉硬化、高血脂症。(4)清暑茶:藿香、佩兰叶、茶叶,可清暑化湿,用于中暑轻症。     

农药微生物降解的研究现状与发展策略

本文在农药降解菌的富集分离及农药微生物降解的途径，特别在微生物产生的农药降解酶和农药微生物降解基因操作方面对农药微生物降解的研究现状作了简要综述，提出了农药微生物降解的研究趋势。联系地址：中国科学院广州地球化学研究所，广州五山，５１０６４０津、环草隆、三氯醋酸、氯苯胺灵等。芽孢杆菌属（Ｂａｃｉｌｌｕｓ）：ＤＤＴ、ｒ－ＢＨＣ、艾氏剂、狄氏剂、异狄氏剂、七氯、苯硫磷、对硫磷、甲基对硫磷、杀螟松、毒杀芬、茅草枯、三氯醋酸、利谷隆、灭草隆、毒旁定。节细菌属（Ａｒｔｈｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒ）：ＤＤＴ、艾氏剂、异狄氏剂、七氯、草多索、马拉硫磷、二嗪农、２，４－Ｄ、２甲４氯、茅草枯、三氯醋酸、毒莠定、西玛津、味哺丹［８］。棒状杆菌属（Ｃｏｒｙｎｂｏａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ）：ＤＤＴ、２，４－Ｄ、２甲４氯、茅草枯、二硝甲酚、百草枯、草枯醚。无色杆菌属（Ａｃｈｒｏｍｏｂａｃｔｅｒ）：ＤＤＴ、西维因、２，４－Ｄ、２甲４氯、２，４，５－Ｔ、氯苯胺灵。土壤杆菌属（Ａｇｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ）：ＤＤＴ、氯苯胺灵、茅草枯、三氯醋酸、毒莠定。黄杆菌属（Ｆｌａｖｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ）：对硫磷、甲基对硫磷、马拉硫磷、二嗪农、毒死蜱、２，４－Ｄ、２甲４氯、     

浙江省环境工程有限公司

正浙江省环境工程有限公司前身为浙江省环境工程公司,创建于1988年,隶属于浙江省环境保护厅。2006年,浙江省环境保护科学设计研究院进行体制改革,引进了战略合作伙伴,重新组建了由浙江省环境保护科学设计研究院控股的集工、贸、研一体的浙江省环境工程有限公司(ZJEE)。公司在城镇、印染、化工、制药、造纸、皮革、食品、酿造、电镀等行业的废水、固废、工业废气以及噪声治理上积累了20多年的丰富实践经验。先后完成了浙江升华拜克生物股份有限公司污水处理工程、浙江余杭环科污水处理厂BOT工程。     

杭州西湖景区PM2.5中重金属来源及健康风险评价

研究了杭州西湖景区PM_(2.5)中12种重金属元素的污染特征、来源及健康风险。结果表明,2018年杭州西湖景区PM_(2.5)年均质量浓度为36.40μg/m~3,其中V、Cr、Mn、Fe、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Nb、Ag、Sn、Pb的年均质量浓度分别为3.16、3.61、22.68、304.84、2.58、9.69、96.38、5.26、197.45、3.89、5.65、27.85ng/m~3,12种重金属元素合计占PM_(2.5)的质量分数为1.88%,总体上冬春季高于夏秋季。Cr、Mn、Fe、Cu、Zn、As、Pb主要来源于机动车尾气和交通二次扬尘,Sn主要来源于工业排放,V和Ni主要来源燃油,Nb和Ag来源未知。健康风险评价显示,杭州西湖景区PM_(2.5)中重金属的非致癌健康风险和致癌健康风险均处在安全范围内,表现出冬春季高于夏秋季的特征。     

浙江环科环境研究院有限公司

正浙江环科环境研究院有限公司是浙江省环境保护科学设计研究院全资公司,注册资金2000万元。是通过浙江省科学技术厅、浙江省财政厅、浙江省国家税务局、浙江省地方税务局联合发文认定的高新技术企业。目前,公司下辖浙江环科环境咨询有限公司、浙江环科工程监理有限公司、浙江省环科环境认证中心等下属子公司。公司主要开展环境影响评价、管理体系认证、上市企业环保核查、环境影响后评价、水土保持方案编制、环境治理工程设计与工程承包、环境工程监理等业务领域,为社会和企业提供环保咨询与工程技术服     

浙江省环境工程有限公司

正浙江省环境工程有限公司前身为浙江省环境工程公司,创建于1988年,隶属于浙江省环境保护厅。2006年,浙江省环境保护科学设计研究院进行体制改革,引进了战略合作伙伴,重新组建了由浙江省环境保护科学设计研究院控股的集工、贸、研—体的浙江省环境工程有限公司(ZJEE)。公司在城镇、印染、化工、制药、造纸、皮革、食品、酿造、电镀等行业的废水、固废、工业废气以及噪声治理上积累了20多年的丰富实践经验。先后完成了浙江升华拜克生物股份有限公司污水处理工程、浙江余杭环科污水处理厂BOT工程,宁波日资三菱丽阳化纤有限公司污水处理工程、浙江嘉化集团污水处理工程、浙江新安化工集团股份有限公司污水处理工程、宁波万隆酒精有限公司污水处理工程、     

A Cost-Benefit Approach to Air Pollution Control

Air pollution has plagued the urban areas of our Nation for many years, both as a serious health hazard and as a costly economic burden. Users of the air as a waste disposal medium have treated it as a free resource with no regard for the damages incurred by receptors of the dirty air. Unfortunately, no self-regulating market forces exist that will bring this diseconomy into an acceptable equilibrium. An outside regulating force, which can affect abatement of air pollution, is needed to achieve control of air pollution to a level acceptable to a community. A prerequisite of any proposed regulatory action to be applied by an outside force, however, is the need to define an acceptable level of pollution. One means of accomplishing the task is to apply an economic evaluation, in the form of a cost-benefit analysis, to the problem. Previous analyses of the economic aspects of air pollution have stressed only one side of the problem. That is, they have dealt only with the cost of control or the damages caused by air pollution. No analysis has combined both aspects into a meaningful analysis of the overall economic impact. The objective of this paper is to present a technique that can be used to find the level of pollution abatement in an area that balances the cost of controlling pollution with the benefits received from its control. To present a clearer picture of this technique and its results, it has been applied to the Washington, D. C. area to find the optimum level of particulate abatement. This method is generally applicable to any area, in which an air pollution problem exists.     

Heavy metal pollution in China: Origin,pattern and control

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Heavy metal is among one of the pollutants, which cause severe threats to humans and the environment in China. The aim of the present review is to make information on the source of heavy metal pollution, distribution of heavy metals in the environment, and measures of pollution control accessible internationally, which are mostly published in Chinese. METHODS: Information from scientific journals, university journals and governmental releases are compiled focusing mainly on Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Partly Al, As, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn and Ni a included also in part as well. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In soil, the average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are 0.097, 22.6, 26.0 and 74.2 mg/kg, respectively. In the water of the Yangtze River Basin, the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are 0.080, 7.91, 15.7 and 18.7 microg/L, respectively. In reference to human activities, the heavy metal pollution comes from three sources: industrial emission, wastewater and solid waste. The environment such as soil, water and air were polluted by heavy metals in some cases. The contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn even reach 3.16, 99.3, 84.1 and 147 mg/kg, respectively, in the soils of a wastewater irrigation zone. These contaminants pollute drinking water and food, and threaten human health. Some diseases resulting from pollution of geological and environmental origin, were observed with long-term and non-reversible effects. CONCLUSIONS: In China, the geological background level of heavy metal is low, but with the activity of humans, soil, water, air, and plants are polluted by heavy metals in some cases and even affect human health through the food chain. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: To remediate and improve environmental quality is a long strategy for the polluted area to keep humans and animals healthy. Phytoremediation would be an effective technique to remediate the heavy metal pollutions.     

Non-controlled biogenic emissions to the atmosphere from Lazareto landfill, Tenerife, Canary Islands

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: [corrected] Historically, landfills have been the simplest form of eliminating urban solid waste with the minimum cost. They have been the most usual method for discarding solid waste. However, landfills are considered authentic biochemical reactors that introduce large amounts of contaminants into the environment in the form of gas and leachates. The dynamics of generation and the movement of gas in landfills depend on the input and output parameters, as well as on the structure of the landfill and the kind of waste. The input parameters include water introduced through natural or artificial processes, the characteristics of the urban solid waste, and the input of atmospheric air. The main output parameters for these biochemical reactors include the gases and the leachates that are potentially pollutants for the environment. Control systems are designed and installed to minimize the impact on the environment. However, these systems are not perfect and a significant amount of landfill gas could be released to the atmosphere through the surface in a diffuse form, also known as Non-controlled emission. In this paper, the results of the Non-controlled biogenic gas emissions from the Lazareto landfill in Tenerife, Canary Islands, are presented. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the concentration of CH4 and CO2 in the soil gas of the landfill cover, the CH4 and CO2 efflux from the surface of the landfill and, finally, to compare these parameters with other similar landfills. In this way, a better understanding of the process that controls biogenic gas emissions in landfills is expected. METHODS: A Non-controlled biogenic gas emission survey of 281 sampling sites was carried out during February and March, 2002. The sampling sites were selected in order to obtain a well-distributed sampling grid. Surface landfill CO2 efflux measurements were carried out at each sampling site on the surface landfill together with soil gas collection and ground temperatures at a depth of 30-40 cm.The CH4 efflux was computed from CO2 efflux and from the ratio CH4/CO2 in the soil gas. Soil gas samples were collected at a depth of 30-40 cm using a metallic probe and 20 cc hypodermic syringes, and later stored in evacuated 10 cc vacutainers for laboratory analysis of bulk composition. The gas sample was introduced in a vacutainer filled with deionized water and displacing the water until the vacutainer was filled with the gas sample in order to avoid air contamination from entering. The surface landfill temperature of the landfill was measured at a depth of 40 cm using a digital thermometer type OMEGA 871A. Landfill gases, CO2 and CH4, were analyzed within 24 hours using a double channel VARIAN micro-GC QUAD CP-2002P, with a 10 meter PORAPLOT-Q column, a TCD detector, and He as a carrier gas. The analysis temperature was 40 degrees C and the injection time was 10 msec. Surface landfill CO2 efflux measurements were performed using a portable NDIR spectrophotometer Licor-800 according to the accumulation chamber method (Chiodini et al. 1996). The data treatment, aimed at drawing the flux map and computing the total gas output, was based on the application of stochastic simulation algorithms provided by the GSLIB program (Deutsch and Journel 1998). RESULTS: Diffuse CH4 and CO2 efflux values range from negligible values up to 7,148 and 30,573 g m(-2) d(-1), respectively. The spatial distribution of the concentration and efflux of CO2, CH4 and soil temperature, show three areas of maximum activity in the landfill, suggesting a non-uniform pattern of diffuse degassing. This correlation between high emissions and concentration of CO2, CH4 and soil temperatures suggests that the areas of higher microbial activity and exothermic reactions are releasing CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere from the landfill. Taking into consideration the spatial distribution of the CO2 and CH4 efflux values as well as the extension of the landfill, the Non-controlled emission of CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere by the Lazareto's landfill are of 167 +/- 13.3 and 16 +/- 2.5 t d(-1), respectively. DISCUSSION: The patterns of gas flow within the landfill seem to be affected by boundary materials at the sides. The basalt layers have a low permeability and the gas flow in these areas is extensive. In this area, where a basalt layer does not exist, the flow gas diffuses toward the sea and the flux emissions at the landfill surface are lower. This behavior reflects the possible dissolution of gases into water and the deflection of gases towards the surface at the basalt boundary. The proximity to the sea, the installation of a palm tree garden and, as a result, the contribution of water coming from the watering of this garden has reactivated the system. The introduction of sea water into the landfill and the type of boundary could be defining the superficial gas discharges. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study indicate that the spatial distribution of Non-controlled emission of CO2 and CH4 at the Lazareto's landfill shows a non-uniform pattern of diffuse degassing. The northeast, central and northwest areas of the Lazareto's landfill are the three areas of high emissions and concentration of CO2 and CH4, and high temperatures. The correlation between high emissions and the concentration of CO2, CH4, and the high temperatures suggest that the areas of higher microbial activity and exothermic reactions are releasing more CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere from the landfill. A high concentration of CO2 is probably due to the presence of methanotrophic bacteria in the soil atmosphere of the landfill. Patterns of gas flow within the landfill seem to be affected by boundary materials (basalt layers) of low permeability, and side boundaries of the flux emissions at the surface are higher. At the sides of seawater and sediment boundaries, flux emissions at the landfill surface are lower. This behavior reflects a possible dissolution of gases into the water and the deflection of gases towards the surface at the basalt boundary. With this study, we can compare the data obtained in this landfill with other landfills and observe the different levels of emission. The proximity to the sea and the installation of the palm tree garden palms and, as a result, the contribution of water coming from the watering of this garden has reactivated the system. Many landfills worldwide located in similar settings could experience similar gas production processes. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: The need for investigating and monitoring sea water and sediment quality in these landfills is advisable. Concentrations and fluxes of contaminants and their impact in the area should be assessed. With this study we can compare the data obtained in these landfills with other landfills and observe the different levels of emission.     

Aquaculture effects on environmental and public welfare - the case of Mediterranean mariculture

Aquatic farming has been considered, during the last decades, as the fastest growing food production industry powered by governmental and technological impulsion. Compensation for fisheries decline, creation of new jobs and source of financial windfall are the most important benefits. However, similar to most of the human food-production activities, aquaculture raised several issues related to the environmental welfare and consumer safety. An effort to record the aquaculture-environment and -human safety interactions with regard to the Mediterranean mariculture, is attempted herein. We focused on this geographical area due to its individualities in both the hydrological and physicochemical characteristics and the forms of aquaculture activities. The cage farming of euryhaline marine fish species and more recently of bluefin tuna and mollusk farming are the dominating aquaculture activities. The impacts of these activities to the environment, through wastes offloads, introduction of alien species, genetic interactions, disease transfer, release of chemicals, use of wild recourses, alterations of coastal habitats and disturbance of wildlife, are analytically considered. Also the consumer safety issues related to the farming are assessed, including generation of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, contaminants transferred to humans though food chain and other hazards from consumption of aquacultured items. Within these, the major literature findings are critically examined and suggestions for scientific areas that need further development are made. The major tasks for future aquaculture development in this region are: (i) to ensure sustainability and (ii) to balance the risks to public or environmental health with the substantial economical benefits. In regard with monitoring, tools must be created or adapted to predict the environmental costs and estimate consumer impact. At a canonistic and legal basis, the establishment of appropriate legal guidelines and common policies from all countries involved should be mandatory.     

影响有机污染物在土壤中的迁移、转化行为的因素

本文介绍了有机污染物在土壤中的吸附与解吸附、渗滤、挥发和降解等行为过程。探讨了吸附与解吸附机理、土壤有机质含量和类型、水分含量及温度等对此过程的影响。依据某些典型的化合物行为模型,论述了影响土壤中有机污染物渗滤的因素。有机污染物需要先从土壤深层迁移至地表,然后挥发至大气,在土壤中迁移的速率较慢,控制着整个挥发过程,可用Ｆｉｃｋ 第二定律来描述。有机污染物在土壤中的非生物降解主要包括氧化－ 还原、光解和水解等反应。土壤中的Ｏ２ 含量、土壤有机质成分和含量、辐射强度、光谱分布、土壤水分含量、温度和ｐＨ 值等都会影响非生物降解过程。其中有些因素通过影响微生物的生物活性,还影响有机污染物的生物降解     

预涂动态膜强化渗透与截留性能研究

以二氧化钛粉体材料为涂膜剂,陶瓷管为基膜制备预涂动态膜,引入通量增强系数Zi和截留增强系数Fi研究了预涂动态膜制备条件对其强化渗透与截留性能的影响,并用SEM电镜对预涂动态膜和基膜表面形貌进行表征。结果表明:制备的预涂动态膜表面均匀密实,其孔径低于基膜平均孔径。预涂动态膜的渗透与截留性能随涂膜液pH值的增加而增加,在跨膜压差低于0.2 MPa、错流速度低于1.5 m/s,涂膜时间少于30 m in和涂膜液浓度低于0.4 g/L范围内,提高这些参数值有利于提高预涂动态膜的渗透与截留性能,超出此范围时,提高这些参数值对增强其渗透与截留性能的效果已不明显,其中错流速度的影响相对小些。跨膜压差为0.2 MPa,错流速度为1.5 m/s,涂膜时间30 m in,涂膜液浓度和pH值分别为0.4 g/L和10.2时为最佳制备条件。     

Interactions of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Weather Calling for an Integrated Approach to Assessment, Forecasting, and Communication of Air Quality

This article reviews interactions and health impacts of physical, chemical, and biological weather. Interactions and synergistic effects between the three types of weather call for integrated assessment, forecasting, and communication of air quality. Today’s air quality legislation falls short of addressing air quality degradation by biological weather, despite increasing evidence for the feasibility of both mitigation and adaptation policy options. In comparison with the existing capabilities for physical and chemical weather, the monitoring of biological weather is lacking stable operational agreements and resources. Furthermore, integrated effects of physical, chemical, and biological weather suggest a critical review of air quality management practices. Additional research is required to improve the coupled modeling of physical, chemical, and biological weather as well as the assessment and communication of integrated air quality. Findings from several recent COST Actions underline the importance of an increased dialog between scientists from the fields of meteorology, air quality, aerobiology, health, and policy makers.     

高温堆肥与蚯蚓堆肥对城市污泥重金属形态的影响

采用高温堆肥和蚯蚓堆肥工艺，研究了城市污泥与锯末、粉煤灰或磷矿粉按不同比例混合堆肥前后重金属（Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd和As）交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰氧化物结合态、有机结合态和残留态的变化。研究表明：高温堆肥和蚯蚓堆肥前后各试验污泥的重金属形态和含量呈现出不同的变化，都可以降低污泥中交换态Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd和As的含量；对于Cu和Pb，高温堆肥优于蚯蚓堆肥；对于Zn、Cd和As，蚯蚓堆肥优于高温堆肥。2种堆肥方式中，粉煤灰用量为10%的钝化效果优于20%，磷矿粉的钝化效果同粉煤灰一样。     

Variable-density groundwater flow and solute transport in heterogeneous porous media: approaches, resolutions and future challenges

In certain hydrogeological situations, fluid density variations occur because of changes in the solute or colloidal concentration, temperature, and pressure of the groundwater. These include seawater intrusion, high-level radioactive waste disposal, groundwater contamination, and geothermal energy production. When the density of the invading fluid is greater than that of the ambient one, density-driven free convection can lead to transport of heat and solutes over larger spatial scales and significantly shorter time scales than compared with diffusion alone. Beginning with the work of Lord Rayleigh in 1916, thermal and solute instabilities in homogeneous media have been studied in detail for almost a century. Recently, these theoretical and experimental studies have been applied in the study of groundwater phenomena, where the assumptions of homogeneity and isotropy rarely, if ever, apply. The critical role that heterogeneity plays in the onset as well as the growth and/or decay of convective motion is discussed by way of a review of pertinent literature and numerical simulations performed using a variable-density flow and solute transport numerical code. Different styles of heterogeneity are considered and range from continuously "trending" heterogeneity (sinusoidal and stochastic permeability distributions) to discretely fractured geologic media. Results indicate that both the onset of instabilities and their subsequent growth and decay are intimately related to the structure and variance of the permeability field. While disordered heterogeneity tends to dissipate convection through dispersive mixing, an ordered heterogeneity (e.g., sets of vertical fractures) allows instabilities to propagate at modest combinations of fracture aperture and separation distances. Despite a clearer understanding of the processes that control the onset and propagation of instabilities, resultant plume patterns and their migration rates and pathways do not appear amenable to prediction at present. The classical Rayleigh number used to predict the occurrence of instabilities fails, in most cases, when heterogeneous conditions prevail. The incorporation of key characteristics of the heterogeneous permeability field into relevant stability criteria and numerical models remains a challenge for future research.     

Radionuclides and heavy metals in Borovac,Southern Serbia

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The paper presents the complex approach to the assessment of the state of the environment in Southern Serbia, surroundings of Bujanovac, the region which is of great concern as being exposed to contamination by depleted uranium (DU) ammunition during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) attacks in 1999. It includes studies on concentrations of radionuclides and heavy metals in different environmental samples 5 years after the military actions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In October 2004, samples of soil, grass, lichen, moss, honey, and water were collected at two sites, in the immediate vicinity of the targeted area and 5 km away from it. Radionuclide ((7)Be, (40)K, (137)Cs, (210)Pb, (226)Ra, (232)Th, (235)U, (238)U) activities in solid samples were determined by standard gamma spectrometry and total alpha and beta activity in water was determined by proportional alpha-beta counting. Concentrations of 35 elements were determined in the samples of soil, moss, grass, and lichen by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). RESULTS: The results are discussed in the context of a possible contamination by DU that reached the environment during the attacks as well as in the context of an environmental pollution by radionuclides and heavy metals in Southern Serbia. The results are compared to the state of environment in the region and other parts of the country both prior to and following the attacks. DISCUSSION: This is the first comprehensive study of the contents of radionuclides and heavy metals in Southern Serbia and consequently highly important for the assessment of the state of environment in this part of the country concerning possible effects of DU ammunition on the environment, as well as anthropogenic source of pollution by radionuclides and heavy metals and other elements. Also, the highly sensitive method of INAA was used for the first time to analyze the environmental samples from this area. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study of radionuclides in the samples of soils, leaves, grass, moss, lichen, honey, and water in Southern Serbia (Bujanovac) gave no evidence of the DU contamination of the environment 5 years after the military actions in 1999. Activities of radionuclides in soils were within the range of the values obtained in the other parts of the country and within the global average. The ratio of uranium isotopes confirmed the natural origin of uranium. In general, concentrations of heavy metals in the samples of soils, plant leaves, mosses, and lichen are found to be less or in the lower range of values found in other parts of the country, in spite of the differences in plant and moss species or soil characteristics. Possible sources of heavy metal contamination were identified as a power coal plant in the vicinity of the sampling sites and wood and waste burning processes. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: The collected data should provide a base for the health risk assessments on animals and humans in the near future. It should be emphasized that the sampling was carried out 5 years after the military action and that the number of samples was limited; therefore, the conclusions should be accepted only as observed tendencies and a detailed study should be recommended in the future.