The article treats the main tasks of analytical chemistry in discovering and removing old environmental burdens in the Czech Republic. The main problems of analytical practice are characterized for the analysis of contaminated earths, waters, constructions and wastes, and the possible organizational models of analytical laboratories engaged in the process are presented. The necessity of a close cooperation between the analytical laboratory and the person responsible for solving the individual phases of rescue is emphasized as a condition of a successful intervention activity: the best way is a direct participation of the analyst in the rescue team.