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Summary -The investigation of probiotics has been very intensive during the last decades, concentrating mainly on lactic acid and bifidobacteria. But there is also clear evidence that propionibacteria have probiotic effects. The probiotic influence is based on the production of propionic acid, bacteriocins, vitamin B 12 , better exploitation of fodder, growth stimulation of other beneficial bacteria and the ability to stay alive during gastric digestion. In Finland, large test series with piglets receiving Propionibacterium freudenreichii in their fodder have been performed. The growth promotant effect was significant and the fodder demand was c1early lower when compared with the control group. The bacterial concentration used was, on average, 2 x 109 cfu/g and the dose/animal 1-5 g/d. The minerai and trace element contents of a Propionibacterium freudenreichii-mass have also been studied. In other European countries, mixtures of propionibacteria and lactic acid/bifidobacteria have been used with positive results as probiotics for ca Ives. Propionibacteria have also been investigated as human probiotics, especially in curing intestinal disorders of children and elderly people. The occurrence of lactic acid bacteria and propionibacteria in living food is very interesting as different kinds of this food type obviously act as probiotics. Thus, propionibacteria can be considered as potential probiotics requiring further research.

Rapakivi granite samples were incubated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa culture solutions in order to elucidate the possible role of bacteria in rapakivi (crumbling stone) disintegration. SEM micrographs showed micromorphological alterations on the incubated rapakivi surface at 21 to 23°C for 20 days. Elevated concentrations of Na, Ca, K, Fe, and Mg were detected in the culture solutions after incubation. Elemental oxide ratios [K 2 O : (Na 2 O + CaO)] in culture solutions were similar to those in rapakivi ovoids, suggesting a proportional dissolution pattern of these elements.

The metal content of some milk samples was analyzed from areas of acid sulphate soils along the course of the river Kyrönjoki in western Finland. Comparative analyses were made with samples from the Artjärvi-Porlammi area. The variations of analyzed metals AI,

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