During 2005 the referent monitoring of the chemical quality of surface waters and sediments in Vojvodina was conducted as a supplement to the regular monitoring program in Vojvodina. It is concluded that the water quality mainly satisfies the criteria of the 1st/2nd class acccording to our legislation, but regarding the more stringent Canadian and Dutch water quality standards content of some micropollutants may be considered as potentially problematic. Sediment quality is mainly satisfying, with the exceptions of the DTD canal Vrbas-Bezdan monitoring station after Srbobran, which showed a slight contamination with PAHs, and the Sava-Sabac monitoring station, as the target values according to Dutch legislation were exceeded for DDT and its metabolites.

During the spring of 2005, the chemical quality of surface waters and sediments in selected protected areas of Vojvodina (Serbia) was monitored, as a part of the Referent monitoring of the chemical quality of surface waters in Vojvodina during 2005 project. This work presents the results of the referent monitoring and establishes the chemical quality of the surface waters and sediments, and identifies particularly polluted and threatened areas. It is shown that in terms of organic micropollutants content, the chemical quality of the water in the protected areas is in most cases satisfactory, except in the protected areas of Carska Bara, at the Stari Begej Wharf site, and Lake Ludos, where higher mineral oils concentrations were detected. Furthermore, the toluene concentration in Lake Ludos exceeded Canadian guidelines.

The paper outlines the significance of studying and analysing sediment deposition issues in drainage canals in Vojvodina, Serbia (Serbia and Montenegro). This problem needs to be properly addressed considering the total length of the canal network, that is, the total volume of sediment to be removed by dredging if the functional performance of the canal network is to be restored and maintained. Much of the effort needs to be focused to the polluted sediments with a severe risk for the environment. Sediment pollution is caused by the point and non-point sources of pollution. Taking one drainage canal as the example, essential chemical properties of the sediment and hazardous and toxic substances contents (heavy metals, PAHSs and PCBs) are being analysed and presented in the paper.

During 2004 the referent monitoring of chemical quality of surface water and sediments in some protected areas in Vojvodina was conducted as a supplement to the regular monitoring program in Vojvodina. The aim of the study was to establish the chemical quality of surface water and sediments. It is concluded that the water quality satisfies the criteria of class 1/2 according to national legislation. With regard to contamination of sediments with organic micropollutants the sediment of Lake Ludos may be considered as potentially problematic because the Canadian empiric effect guideline value as well as sediment quality reference values according to Dutch legislation were exceeded for DDT and its derivatives.