Methods in trace element determination have undergone a renaissance over the past few years. This work brings the reader up to date in not only the theory of the methods, but also the apparatus and preparation of samples. Coupled techniques such as ICP-MS, HPLC-AAS and HPLC-ICP-MS, along with the more conventional methods of elemental analysis, are described with the aid of illustrations and realistic examples taken from the area of environmental and biological analysis, and from the field of analysis of high purity materials.