The paper presents results or laboratory tests or solid-phase anaerobic biorerncdiation or soil contaminated with chlorinated pesticides. It was shown that using methanogcnic granular sludge as inoculum and lactate as electron donor, it is possible to remove 80% or y-HCH, 94% 01· methoxychlor and 93% or DDT against control sample, with DDD accumulation much less than stoichiometric. Pesticides removal was practically completed alter 4-6 weeks of incubation at 22°C. Additional application of nonionic surfactant Tween 80 resulted in about one and a half-fold decrease or residual concentrations or some corn pounds. It also enhanced DDT conversion to some extent, decreasing DDD accumulation and intensifying production of D8P, the terminal metabolite or DDT anaerobic degradation pathway. Use of methanol as electron donor produced effects quite similar to these obtained with lactate, however with reduced results scatter.

Schistidium cupulare (Müll. Hal.) Ochyra, an obscure and poorly known species originally described from Îles Kerguelen as Grimmia cupularis Müll. Hal. and subsequently reported from a single station in the Antarctic, is re-assessed taxonomically. It is considered to be a distinct species of sect. Conferta, closely related to S. amblyophyllum (Müll. Hal.) Ochyra et Hertel, from which it differs in its distal- and mid-leaf areolation of short, isodiametric, quadrate to shortly rectangular cells; stouter costa, 50–75 μm wide in the distal and median part, semi-terete to subrectangular in cross-section and prominently convex on the dorsal surface, (2–)3-stratose above, 3(–4)-stratose below; leaf margins regularly 2–3-stratose in 1–3 rows of cells forming fleshy, bulging limbidia; presence of a distinct central strand; and finely roughened to nearly smooth peristome teeth. S. celatum (Cardot) B.G. Bell from South Georgia and Tierra del Fuego is considered to be conspecific with S. cupulare. Some details of the type specimens of both species are illustrated. The geographical range of S. cupulare is evaluated and it is considered to be an amphiatlantic subantarctic species. A new record of the species from Livingston Island in the Antarctic is provided and a key to species of Schistidium in Antarctica is given.

In order to work out a procedure of diminishing the amount of heavy metals, barium and strontium in wastes, laboratory wastes were collected and investigated. The analysis revealed that mercury and silver are present only in the precipitate, as well as about 213 amount of lead, bismuth and cobalt. Other elements occur mainly in solution. It was also found that there was no justification for the separate segregation of particular analytical groups of elements, especially in the cases where it is difficult to enforce requirement of collecting wastes in proper containers. Solid wastes were divided into two groups: I - containing mercury and 2 - without mercury content. Metals were eliminated in the form of sulphides and hydroxides by their precipitation with sodium sulphide, flocculation, sedimentation and dehydration. Solutions left after metals separation meet requirements for wastes, which can be disposed of the sewage system.