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Measurement of magnetic susceptibility of topsoil represents a very useful tool for the detection of atmospherically depositedmagnetic particles. The samples of forest soils from the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mountains (the Czech Republic) were used foridentification of emissions sources of particles with magnetic ordering. Magnetic susceptibility was measured at bulk samples ofgrain size class under 2 mm. Microanalysis using electron microscope with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer was used forthe determination of particles in the magnetic fraction. The samples of dust from the sintering plant of the Iron Works in the townof Třinec were analysed. The values of magnetic susceptibility of forest soils in the Třinec region are increased. In the relatively nearvicinity of the industrial area, the average value for Javorový Mount was 7.90×10-6 m3/kg, for Ostrý Mount it was 6.69×10-6 m3/kg. It was proved that they were higher than the average values from the Beskydy Mountains (4.64×10-6 m3/kg). The concentrationsof lead and magnetic susceptibility in soils showed significant correlation dependence (rs = 0.85). The iron and steel industryrepresent the primary source of the pollution load in forest soils of the studied area. Statistically, significant dependences betweenthe organic matter content and the lead and zinc concentrations as well as between the magnetic susceptibility values and the ironconcentrations in forest soils were found. It was confirmed that the airborne particles are deposited on vegetation and accumulatedin the organic horizon of forest soils.

Soot and ash as residues from the combustion of peat briquettes were analysed by chemical and mineralogical methods. The study aimed to characterize combustion in domestic boilers of two different emission classes. Ten samples of soot deposited in exhausting ways of boilers were obtained (five of each emission class). The analyses of organic substances in soot were performed using a combination of the methods for the determination of elemental and organic forms of carbon with analytical pyrolysis. Pyrolysis gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (Py-GC/MS) allowed the identification of organic compounds belonging to twenty different groups. The major and minor elements in peat briquettes, char and soot, were determined by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The identification of grains and the chemical character of soot was performed using a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. The mineral phases in ash were determined by X-ray diffraction. The behaviour of the inorganic elements in combustion products (ash and soot) was studied by means of an enrichment factor. The analytical results are used for characterizing the technological conditions of combustion. The soot deposits from the more advanced boilers with increased combustion temperature contain more organic compounds which indicate the highly carbonized cellulose (benzofurans and dibenzofurans). The increased combustion temperature is indicated by increased concentrations of heterocyclic and aliphatic nitrogen compounds, while the total concentrations of nitrogen in soot from boilers of both types are comparable.