Methods of optical atomic spectroscopy find wide application in the control of chemical quality of basic matrices of the environment (air, water) due to these methods' high selectivity as well as their typical multielemental character. Over many years, systematic observations of environment loading (gravitation dust sediments and water sediments), spectrochemical methods (DC arc spectrography, spectrometry with plasma excitation, and atomic absorption spectrometry), and some supplementary methods have been gradually applied to monitor metal elements in the East Slovakian region. In the methodological sphere basic evaluation parameters of individual methods (precision, accuracy, and determination limits) are concisely characterized, as are the methods and procedures of their optimization. In chemometrical evaluation of the results of many years of observation, the relation between the total dustiness in the region of Kosice (approx. 280,000 inhabitants) and the meteorological situations during the monitored period was evaluated. The methods and procedures for evaluating sediment and water loading of the water reservoir RuΕΎin with metal elements and the procedures for finding the pollutants in the waters of the HornΓ‘d river basin and the RuΕΎin reservoir are also discussed. 1995 Academic Press. Inc.