Determination and electrochemical investigation of genotoxic nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 4-nitroindane (4-NI) were carried out using direct current tast polarography (DCTP) and differential pulse polarography (DPP) at a classical dropping mercury electrode (DME) and using direct current voltammetry (DCV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) at a hanging mercury drop minielectrode (HMDmE). The following optimal media for the determination of 4-NI were found: methanol-BrittonRobinson (BR) buffer of pH 12.0 (1:1) for DCTP and DPP, methanol-BR buffer of pH 9.0 (1:9) for DCV, and methanol-BR buffer of pH 8.0 (1:9) for DPV. For CV investigation, mixtures of methanol-BR buffer of pH 3.0, 8.0, and 12.0 (1:1) were used. The limits of quantification were: 0.65 lmol dm -3 (DCTP at the DME), 0.10 lmol dm -3 (DPP at the DME), 0.075 lmol dm -3 (DCV at the HMDmE), and 0.070 lmol dm -3 (DPV at the HMDmE). An attempt to increase the determination sensitivity using adsorptive accumulation of 4-NI on the HMDmE surface was not successful. The newly developed polarographic and voltammetric methods were successfully applied for the determination of 4-NI in model samples of drinking and river water. Graphical abstract -300 -400 -500 -600 -700 -800 -10 -15 -20 -25 -30 NO 2 I / nA E / mV 0 . 0 0 . 4 0 . 8 1 . 2 0 -4 -8 -12 c / µmol dm -3