Spiders were studied around the Pechenganikel smelter combine, Kola Peninsula, north-western Rus- sia. The average spider density was 6-fold greater and the density of Linyphiidae specimens 11.5-fold higher at slightly polluted sites, compared with heavily polluted sites. Altogether, 18 species from 10 families were found at heavily polluted sites, the theridiid Robertus scoticus clearly dominating (23.3 % of identifiable specimens), also Neon reticulatus (9.6 %), Thanatus formicinus (9.6 %) and Xysticus audax (8.2 %) were abundant. The most numerous among 58 species found at slightly polluted sites were Tapinocyba pallens (18.5 %), Robertus scoticus (13.7 %), Maso sundevalli (9.5 %) and Alopecosa aculeata (8.2 %). The family Linyphiidae dominated at slightly polluted sites, 64 % of species and 60 % of individuals; compared with heavily polluted sites, 23 % and 38 % respectively. In the late 1980's, reports of heavy pollution loads from the Russian smelters in the Kola Peninsula and their possible effect on needle losses among pine in northern Finland prompted active studies on effects of pollution on forest ecosystems in northern Fin- land, Russia and Norway (see KOZLOV et al. 1993, TIKKANEN & NIEMELA 1995). Spiders, like some other predatory arthropod groups, have been observed at heavily polluted sites near smelters in northern Europe (BENGTSSON & RUDGREN 1984, KONEVA 1993, KOPONEN & NIEMELA 1994, KOPONEN & KONEVA 2006). Gen- erally, markedly high concentrations of heavy metals have been found in spiders near pollution sources (BENGTSSON & RUNDGREN 1984, KOPONEN & NIEMELA 1995, MAELFAIT & HENDRICKX 1998), and spiders have often been used as indicators in monitoring the effects of pollution (e.g. CLAUSEN 1986). In the present paper, information will be given on spider assemblages near the Pechenganikel smelter complex, in the subarctic Kola Peninsula, NW Rus- sia.