Three edible mushroom species (Imlera badia, Boletus subtomentosus, Xerocomellus chrysenteron) sampled in 60 different localities of Slovakia were evaluated to determine health risks (associated with mercury content) arising from their consumption. Total content of mercury in soil and mushroom samples was determined by an AMA-254 analyzer. Soil pollution by mercury was evaluated by contamination factor (C_f), pollution load index (PLI), and geoaccumulation index (I_geo). Bioaccumulation factor (BAF), translocation factor (Qc/s), provisional tolerably weekly intake (%PTWI), estimated daily intake (EDI), and target hazard quotient (THQ) were used to describe and compare uptake and transition abilities of mushrooms, and the health risk arising from mushroom consumption. Mercury content in soil significantly influences the content of mercury in mushroom fruiting body parts. Caps and stipes of Boletus subtomentosus were found to be the best mercury accumulator. According to the EDI, consumption of the evaluated mushroom species represents a serious threat for adults and children. The lowest values of THQ were found for Xerocomellus chysenteron.

Thirty soil samples were taken, and the same number of moss (Dicranum scoparium) and lichen (Pseudevernia furfuracea) bags were exposed to detect environmental pollution in the former mining area Nižná Slaná. Soil and ambient air are influenced by hazardous substances, which leak from old mining bodies due to insufficient or completely missing reclamation. The total content of the risk elements (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Sb, Se, Pb, Zn) was determined in soil, moss, and lichen samples and in the bodies of Leccinum pseudoscabrum. Biological (soil enzymes—urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, fluorescein diacetate (FDA), ß-glucosidase) and chemical properties (pH) were determined in soil samples. Contamination factor (C_f), degree of contamination (C_d), pollution load index (PLI), and enrichment factor (EF) were used for soil and relative accumulation factor (RAF) for air quality evaluation. Contamination factor values show serious pollution by Cd, Fe, Hg, and Mn. Pollution load index confirmed extremely high pollution almost at all evaluated areas. Soil enzymes reacted to soil pollution mostly by decreasing their activity. Mosses and lichens show differences in the accumulation abilities of individual elements. Regular consumption of L. pseudoscabrum would provide the dose of Cd and Hg below the limit of provisional weekly intake. Based on the bioaccumulation index (BAF) values, L. pseudoscabrum can be characterized as an Hg accumulator.

Three lichen species (Phaeophyscia orbicularis, Physcia adscendens, and Xanthoria parietina), were sampled from the deciduous trees along nine streets of various traffic densities in Prešov, Slovakia. The total concentrations of risk elements (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were determined by the ICP-OES method. Phaeophyscia orbicularis showed the best ability to accumulate all evaluated risk elements except Pb and Cr. X. parientina was found to be the least suitable for bioaccumulation purposes. The concentration of evaluated risk elements in lichen insoles came predominantly from traffic, which was confirmed by a significant positive correlation between risk elements and traffic density. Based on the results of contamination factor, evaluated streets were most polluted by Cr, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn and only slightly polluted by Cd. Provably higher values of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn were measured in streets with higher traffic density. According to the cluster analysis, two groups of risk elements, expressing their origin, were found.

Data on the occurrence of non-biting moth flies (Diptera, Psychodidae) from the area of Králický Sněžník Mts and neighbouring environs is presented. A total of 56 species are recorded. Seven species are critically endangered: Philosepedon ( Trichosepedon ) balkanicum Krek, 1971; Clytocerus ( Boreoclytocerus ) rivosus (Tonnoir, 1919); Saraiella parva (Vaillant, 1963); S. rotunda (Krek, 1970); Szaboiella hibernica (Tonnoir, 1940); Tonnoiriella nigricauda (Tonnoir, 1919) and Ulomyia plumata (Tonnoir, 1919). Four species are endangered: Threticus incurvus Krek, 1972; Pneumia stammeri (Jung, 1956); P. vittata (Tonnoir, 1919) and Ulomyia vaseki Ježek, 2002. Two species are vulnerable: Threticus arvernicus Vaillant, 1972 and T. silvaticus Ježek, 1985. Moreover, one species which has unfortunately so far not assessed useful conservation status (NS, nationally scarce, used newly in the past): Berdeniella vimmeri Ježek, 1995 is also recorded. A basic prerequisite for the understanding and protection of biodiversity is the building of a high-quality faunal and taxonomic base. This knowledge can be applied to the protection of endangered species (14 in this account), as well as in the management of their habitats, often destroyed by developers of large mountain touristic bases.