An optical chemical sensor for the selective detection of nitrate ions has been developed. The sensitive layer consists of a poly(vinylchloride) membrane containing a nitrate-selective ionophore and a proton-selective (chromo)-ionophore (i.e., a pH indicator). Transport of nitrate ions into the membrane leads to a coextraction of protons, which can be followed by an absorption change of the indicator. The sensor is reversible, showing linear response from 3 x 10(-4) to 4 x 10(-3) mol/l (20-250 mg/l) with a detection limit of 2 x 10(-5) mol/l (1.2 mg/l) nitrate. The response time is of the order of some minutes, and a long-term stability of about five days is observed.