Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The occurrence and behaviour of trace elements in the environment and their functions in health of humans and animals are subjects of a rapidly growing number of investigations. Results of these studies are a base for the assessment of environmental quality and health.

The joint programme  of two Scientific Committees of the Polish Academy of Sciences (one - previous Committee Man and the Environment, now National Committee for Cooperation with ICSU SCOPE and UNESCO/MAB and the second one - Committee of Analytical Chemistry) resulted in a series of symposia organized since 1990 under a series "Trace Elements in the Environment. Ecological and Analytical Problems". Several research institutes have significantly contributed to this program. In two year cycles ten symposia were already held devoted to: (1) mercury, (2) chromium, nickel, and aluminum, (3) arsenic and selenium, (x) quality problems in trace analysis in environmental studies, (4) copper and molybdenum, (5) lead, (6) cadmium, (7) zinc, (8) iron and manganese, (9) criteria of environmental quality and (10) trace elements in food chain.

The topic of the XIth Symposium Trace Elements in the Environment - The State of the Art (to be held on 28 -29 May 2012 at the University of Warmia & Mazury in Olsztyn, Poland) is related to all the problems of occurrence and behavior of all trace elements in the environment and living organisms. The fate of trace elements in the environment, including their role in the food chain, influences the proper ecological balance and human health. The knowledge on the effects caused by an excess and deficiency of potentially toxic trace elements for the biota has rapidly been developed. The possibility of discussion among different specialists and a comparison of data derived from various studies will be a valuable contribution to the state of the knowledge on trace elements in the environment.

Alina Kabata-Pendias
Krystyna A. Skibniewska