Due to decades of neglect as well as ever-increasing industrial activi
ty, environmental monitoring has become an important issue. Given the
expense and time constraints associated with classical laboratory anal
ysis, there exists a growing interest in cost-effective and real-time
technologies suited to environmental monitoring applications. Recent a
dvances in fiber optic technology and miniaturized optical instrumenta
tion, as well as increasing environmental regulations, are driving an
expanded interest in fiber optic sensors for environmental application
s. This review of current literature will provide information concerni
ng some of the recent advances in this area. Published by Elsevier Sci
ence Ltd.