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The levels of radioactive contamination by artificial radiocesium ( 137 Cs) were evaluated in sediments and the commonest species of water plants. Specimens were collected from a range of biotopes along the Pinios River and its tributaries, during the years 1998 and 2010. The 137 Cs concentrations within the above period clearly indicate that this radionuclide still decrease in the River Pinios. A marked decrease is also observed in comparison to our previous results in 1993. 137 Cs concentration activities in the sediment are higher than in the plant material. In general, roots showed greater 137 Cs concentration than leaves, while stems showed the lowest concentration. Significant differences in 137 Cs concentrations were found among different species growing under similar environmental conditions. 137 Cs content in collected aquatic plants was in the descending order: Ceratophyllum demersum L. > Myriophyllum spicatum L. > Paspalum pasalodes Scribner > Cladophora glomerata L. > Cyperus longus L. > Potamogeton nodosus Poiret. A comparison of the studied stations indicated that the southwest side of Thessalia plain, where the first two initial sampling stations of the Pinios River and the tributaries Enipeas and Kalentzis are situated, was highly contaminated. Low 137 Cs concentrations were observed in the Titarisios tributary, originated from the northeast part of Thessalia plain, behind Mt. Olympus and the last sampling stations of the Pinios River.

Metal concentrations in plants, soil and sediment were evaluated in the vicinity of a former iron/nickel enriching factory at Pogradec, near Ohrid Lake in Albania. Metal levels were significantly higher in soil samples than in the corresponding plants. Iron concentrations in both soil and plants were much higher than the nickel ones. Lower plants (lichens, mosses and fungi) had a higher uptake and accumulation of nickel, followed by water plants and non-cultivated (wild) plants. Iron levels were very high in mosses and lichens and relatively lower values in fungi. Water plants showed increased iron concentrations followed by trees and shrubs and non-cultivated plants. In the edible parts of the cultivated plants Capsicum annuum, Lycopersicon esulentum and Zea mays, nickel levels were generally lower ranging from 11 to 29 mg/kg, whereas the nickel concentration in the soil was 925 mg/kg. Iron concentrations in the edible parts of the above mentioned plants were also lower, ranging from 67 mg/kg (Zea mays) to 205 mg/kg (Capsicum annuum) in comparison to other plant organs. In the case of nickel, roots showed generally greater metal concentrations than leaves while stems showed the lowest concentrations. In cultivated plants fruits were less contaminated, but a little bit more than the stems. Seeds of Alyssum murale showed remarkably higher nickel concentrations than other plant organs. In the case of iron the root was more contaminated in tree, shrub and cultivated plant samples but in noncultivated and aquatic plants the leaves showed the highest iron values.