Small- and medium-scale mining operations in Guyana have increased significantly since the late 1980s. The majority of these gold mining operations utilize mercury (Hg) amalgamation methods in the recovery process, raising the question as to the significance of Hg inputs to the environment from mining activities. In March and April, 2001, 168 samples were collected from floodplain, sand bar, and channel bed deposits along a 350 km reach of the Mazaruni River and a 160 km reach of the Essequibo River. Distinct trends in the geochemical data suggest that much of the Hg found in the alluvial deposits is related to anthropogenic sources, including (1) Hg concentrations in floodplain, channel bed and sand bar deposits locally exceed background values defined by ferralitic soils; (2) core data reveal that Hg concentrations within floodplain deposits have increased in recent years; and (3) high Hg concentrations along the channels can be attributed to the influx of material from tributaries affected by mining operations, or to mining activities along the rivers. Recent investigations in Amazonia have argued that Hg from amalgamation mining represents a small portion of the total Hg load to riverine systems, the majority coming from the erosion of Hg enriched upland soils within deforested terrain. Geochemical data from the Essequibo and Mazaruni Rivers suggest that Hg from mining may be a more significant source in Guyana where large-scale deforestation is limited. However, it is unclear whether the increased Hg represents the direct input associated with the amalgamation process, or Hg associated with the erosion of soils and sediments that results from activities that accompany mining.

Assessing metal contamination of sediments requires knowledge of the geochemical partitioning of trace metals at the sediment-water interface. Under controlled laboratory conditions, sequential extraction was conducted to determine the associations of metals (Cd, Cr, and Zn) and radiotracers (¹⁰⁹Cd,⁵¹Cr, and⁶⁵Zn) with various geochemical phases and the different partitioning and mobility of metals for two types of surface sediments collected from the Huanghe and Changjiang Rivers in Eastern China. The residual phase was the major phase for stable metal binding, indicating that these sediments had little subjection to recent anthropogenic influences. Fe–Mn oxides were the next important binding phases for metals. The partitioning of metals in various geochemical phases as a function of the duration of the radiolabeling was also examined. Trace metals transferred among the different geochemical phases over the 30 days radiolabeling period, particularly between the carbonate and Fe–Mn oxides phases. The freshwater-sediment distribution coefficients (Kd) of three metals were investigated in batch experiments using the radiotracer technique. The decreasing Kdwith increasing metal concentration(from 0.5 to 200 μg L⁻¹) may be explained by competitive adsorption. The metal Kdin sediments from the Changjiang River was greater than those from the Huanghe River, presumably because of the higher Fe/Mn and organic carbon contents in Changjiang River sediment. The Kddecreased with increasing total suspended solid load from 3 to 500 mg L⁻¹, and was Cr > Zn > Cd. For Cd and Zn, increasing the pH from 5 to 8 resulted in an increase in Kddue to the reduced H⁺competition and increasing sorptionpotential. However, the Kdfor Cr in the sediments from both rivers showed no relationship with pH, presumably becauseof the complexity of the Cr species and environmental behavior.

During 2001, water from river Cerava and from the littoral where the river flow into lake Ohrid, were examined. Bacteriological analysis included ecological and sanitary aspekt of water state. Heterotrophic, proteolytic, amylolytic and phosphomineralizing bacteria, most probable number of total coliforms (MPN) and presence of Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens were determined. The results of investigations shows organic and faecal pollution and permanent negative anthropogenic effects.

In the scope of complex physical-chemical and biological water examination of Bocac water reservoir, the river Vrbas and trbutaries Ugar and Crna Rijeka, examination of standard microbiological indexes of water quality (aerobic organotrophs at 22-26 deg C and 37 deg C, total colliforms and colliforms of fecal origin) was performed during 2002 (March-November). Number of examined microbiological parameters was mainly in the scope of the 2nd water category (beta-mesosaprobic water) with worse water quality in upstream part of the reservoir. Ugar tributary had the best water quality, while Crna Rijeka had the worst status with obvious anthropogenic influence.

The activities acid, neutral and alkaline phosphatases, as well as total phosphatases activities were estimated in the water of the Lake Ohrid tributaries Sateska, Koselska, Velgoska and Cherava. The same analyses were performed in the littoral zones where the tribitaries enter Lake Ohrid. The study covers the period from September 2000 to October 2001. The obtained results show that different types of phosphatase effect different extracellular activities, an observation which is probably the result of differences in the location within the cells and the way of intracellular synthesis.

There have been given research results of quantitative and qualitative indices of communal and industrial waste waters of Nis. The research was carried out by the Institute "Jaroslav Cerni" (group of authors) and JKP "Naissus" (4) with the goal of defining as reliable parameters as possible in order to draw up plans for a central wastewater cleansing plant in Nis, as well as several necessary treatments of the industrial waste waters. There have been presented quantities, load and expected load of the total waste water, basic characteristics of urban and natural recipient, waste water influence on the river Nisava and needed degree of cleansing.

In scope of complex physical-chemical and biological examination of water quality of the Bocac lake, the river Vrbas and tributaries Ugar and Crna Rijeka, examinations of phytoplankton and zooplankton were performed during 2002 (March-November). In qualitative structure of phytoplankton 7 division were registered, with 93 taxa from 49 genera in total. In warmer period extreme domination have fire algae (Pyrrophyta). In zooplankton structure (Rotatoria, Cladocera, Copepoda) 78 taxa were registered from 36 genera, with distinct domination of Rotatoria group. According to saprobiological analysis species of olligo- and beta-mesosaprobic character are prevailing.

Bacteriological examination have been carried out within the comprehensive hydrochemical and hydrobiological investigation of river Koselska during 2002. The aim of investigations is to confirm condition of bacteriological communities and water quality of river Koselska. The results of investigations shows pollution by organic matter. In order to prevent further eutrophication processes, certain measures of river water protection and conservation should be undertaken. Also, the regular monitoring of water quality should be established.

During the period February 1999 - February 2000 samples of water taken monthly from the area before the outflow of river Crn Drim from the Lake Ohrid, in purpose of qualitative and quantitative investigation of phytoplankton community. During the period of investigation, the phytoplankton community was characterized by forms of Cyanophyta, Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Chrysophyta, Pyrrophyta and Euglenophyta. Qualitative analysis indicated that algae of the division Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta are dominant in the phytoplankton, while the results of the qualitative analysis showed that forms of Bacillariophyta are dominant. Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton is characterized by autumnal and winter domination of Bacillariophyta, spring maximum of Chrysophyta and summer domination of Pyrrophyta. The total number of algae varied between 1500-95,700 ind/l in August and February 2000, respectively.

The paper gives the contribute to analyses of the problem of Crnojevica river (Montenegro, Serbia&Montenegro) water pollution. The analyze surround measurement the next parameters: pH, conductivity, oxygen balance, sanitary parameters, content of different form of phosphorus. These measurements are carried out over five sampling series, at the seven stations, including underground flow rate in the Obod cave. Our estimations are confirmed the continuity of the Crnojevica river pollution, by municipality and strain water from Cetinje urban area. Nutrients, especially phosphates, from the pollution emission, attend conditions (together with many natural factors) for production biomass quantity. The opposite processes, the inhibition processes, exist. Phosphorus in the water attends increase level of the water pollution (over increase eutrophication degree), so the water is out of the legal class, because its usage is limited.