The distribution of vanadium(V) species between soil and plants around the vanadium mine have been studied. The mine dam spilled water around this area after collapsing some time ago. V(V) species were determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) after leaching of vanadium(V) compounds with 0.1 M of Na2CO3, with a limit of detection 0.2 mu g g(-1). The validity of V(V) determination had been confirmed by the spike recovery and of the total amount of vanadium by the analysis of CRM's with good correspondence of found to certified values. The concentration of V(V) species were found to be in the range of 620-1680 mu g g(-1) in soil and 4-6 mu g g(-1) in grass samples, respectively. The total amount of vanadium in soil varied from 1570 to 3600 mu g g(-1) and from 8 to 13 mu g g(-1) in grass. The results indicate that considerable amount of vanadium (about 50%) in soils and plants is present as V(V) species. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.