Electroanalysis for the purpose of environmental monitoring and specimen banking: Is there a future?

Requirements for the application of electroanalytical methods to the chemical characterization of environmental samples, mainly bioindicators, are discussed. It is important to consider and to optimize the whole analytical process for such a purpose and not only the electrochemical measurement. Examples are presented of the successful use of stripping voltammetry and potentiometric stripping analysis within a permanent environmental monitoring and specimen banking programme, Present advantages and problems of electroanalytical procedures for environmental analysis are discussed and a concept of efficient environmental observation exploiting also electroanalytical approaches is outlined.