Environmental analysis

This is the fourteenth annual review published in JAAS of the applications of atomic spectroscopy to the chemical analysis of environmental samples. The format used is generally similar to previous years with some alterations to sub-headings to take account of current trends in the literature. Although developments in instrumentation are not rite main focus of this review they are closely linked to applications as the ability of any new instrument development to measure a determinand at lower concentrations invariably leads to its use in the wide variety of matrices studied by the environmental scientist. As well as instrumentation, key parts of the review are the areas of sampling, sample preparation and sample introduction, which continue to be driving forces for research and publication in the environmental literature. Continuing the trend of last year's review there are an increasing number of publications on speciation of metals, in which separation techniques have been coupled to atomic spectrometry instrumentation, with particular inter est in using the very low detection limits and isotopic information that can be obtained with the nutrient generation of ICP-MS instruments. The importance of trace element determination in environmental analysis reflects the need by industry, government bodies and other interested groups to obtain reliable data on the let el of pollutants in the environment.