Keith (1996) used the term "hot spots" for areas where wildlife is the most threatened by toxic substances. These include areas near industrial and electricity generating centres. Koroska, an industrial area in the northern part of Slovenia with a centuries-old tradition of mining and manufacturing of lead and zinc, represents an extreme example of a "hot spot" environment. In the year 1997 ERICo Velenje started a research project entitled The accumulation of heavy metals in tissues of wildlife - with emphasis on roe deer - in the polluted areas of Slovenia. The main aim of the study was to monitor levels of heavy metals in game tissues and to make a risk assessment for wildlife as well as for human health. In the present work, a comparison between the Koroska region and two other contaminated areas in Slovenia is made. One of them is the Salek valley where the major Slovene power plant of Sostanj is located, and the second one is Zasavje where again a large power plant as well as a cement factory are operated. Comparison is also made with the Triglav National Park (TNP), which represents the area without any local pollution sources (Figure 1). A comparison with similar research performed in 1986 (Osrajnik 1990) is also made. The lead smelter at Zerjav stopped primary manufacture of lead ore in 1990. It is expected that a reduction in levels of heavy metals would follow in all constituent segments of the environment.