In the framework of the Italian National Research Program in Antarctica (PNRA), the Laboratory of Radioecology of the University of Parma developed from 1987 several researches on terrestrial and marine samples. At first the principal aim was the study of 90Sr, 137Cs, 238Pu, 239+240Pu and 241Am concentrations in samples of soil, ice, seawater and biota collected near the Italian Antarctic Base (Ross Sea, Terra Nova Bay).