As we approach the 21st century we have been reassessing the way we conduct
electrochemical stripping measurements of trace metals. Such rethinking ha
s led to the replacement of conventional stripping protocols and systems wi
th remotely deployed submersible ('lab-on-cable') stripping probes, easy-to
-use microfabricated metal-sensor strips or micromachined hand-held total s
tripping analyzers. Such developments allow one to move the measurements of
trace metals to the field, and to perform them more rapidly, reliably and
inexpensively. These advances bring significant changes to the monitoring o
f toxic metals, and allow stripping analysis to retain its place as one of
the most powerful tools for trace analysis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.
All rights reserved.