Abstract: The paper presents the results of the study of atmospheric aerosols in the Siberian region. This research was focused on studying the chemical and biological characteristics of both natural and pollution aerosols in this vast territory of the Asian part of the former Soviet Union (FSU). The data received within the frame of this project formed the basis for the evaluation of the impact of these aerosols on the Arctic region and the global climate. The Asian part of FSU is of scientific interest in the context of environmental chemistry, air pollution and study of atmospheric aerosols, The specific relevance of aerosol research in Siberia is as follows. There are areas that are very remote from industrial or densely populated centres, In these circumstances, aerosol characterization contributes to the definition of global continental “background”) or “baseline” aerosol, i.e, the aerosol which should occur in natural circumstances and on which all pollution is superimposed. Recently, in the context of global and long-term climatic changes, baseline aerosols and long-range transport of particulate air pollutants have become a topic of much debate, This is because it has been thought that aerosols might compensate for the well-known greenhouse effect to a significant. In this context, more and more attention is being paid to long-range effects of continental aerosols on the polar regions. Research in Norway and Alaska showed that Western or Central Siberia may be a very important source of pollutants affecting the air composition in the Arctic region. Cities and regions in south Siberia are enormously polluted by heavy metals, the level of pollution being many times higher than in the Western world, thus the health of local population is seriously affected. In most cases, gigantic point sources are in the area, which is simple from the viewpoint of environmental chemistry and unambiguous results should be obtained easily. Atmospheric deposition is a possible cause of the existence of heavy metals in the southern part of Lake Baikal. in the northern part of the lake, the environment is unpolluted. However in the southern part of the lake is considerably threatened by pollution from Baikalsk wood-pulp mill and industrial enterprises of Irkutsk, Angarsk,

Abstract: Through a combined use of light- and electron microscopy with microanalytical techniques, the aluminium distribution in gills of aluminium-exposed catfish was investigated. This study demonstrates that also with the ''acid-resistant'' catfish, exposed during seven days to acidified water (pH=4.3) with an elevated aluminium concentration (1 mg Al/l), aluminium can be found at, and even in, the gills.

Abstract: The revolutionary development in digital theory and technology calls for non-trivial decisions in bridging between the virtual and real worlds. The field of conservation of cultural heritage thus provides various challenges, especially with regards to learning, study and investigation of tangible heritage through applications of intangible ICT technologies. This paper examines the interaction between e-learning, and the actual on-site learning and study of historic buildings and sites, with an emphasis on their visual characteristics. In this context, the paper presents some aspects of application of a methodology which allows basic documentation, monitoring and primary analysis of data on cultural (built) heritage sites by general public through educational process enabled by an e-learning platform.