EN
The concentration of mercury was tested in soil, plants and roe-deer tissues (muscles, liver, cortex and medulla of kidneys) in two regions of Poland: Upper Silesia nad North-Eastern Poland. Upper Silesia is characterized by heavy industry, with a high concentration of mines and mills as well, whereas North-Eastern Poland is a typical small farming area, practically devoid of industry. The mean levels of mercury in Upper Silesia are as follows (mg kg'1): soil 0.333, plants 0.118, roe-deer muscles 0.007, liver 0.014, kidney cortex 0.114, kidney medulla 0.020. The average content of mercury in the samples from the northeastern part of Poland is 0.028, 0.043, 0.002, 0.002, 0.007 and 0.002, respectively. The results indicate that the level of mercury in soil, plants and roe-deer tissues depends on the rate of environmental contamination with this metal. Roe-deer, as an animal higly dependent on the local ecosystem, are good bioindicators of the contamination of the environment with mercury and other heavy metals.