The use of an inductively coupled plasma, ICP, as an excitation source for atomic fluorescence spectrometric, AFS, in a second ICP is re-examined. Improvements in the ICP-ICP-AFS setup have allowed the lowering of the limits of detection by one to two orders of magnitude below that of previous work. Also discussed is a new mode of operation for the atomization cell ICP. Through simple torch-position and flow-rate adjustments, a thin plasma, which extends 20 to 30 cm above the torch, can be produced. This plasma is referred to as the pencil plasma. 13 refs.