A solid, bismuth (Bi), disk, electrode is used to determine lead (Pb) in natural waters including seawater. The diffusion layer thickness was lowered from 93 to 29 mm by stirring, and to 18 mm by using the vibrated version of the Bi electrode. The Bi electrode does not require removal of dissolved oxygen, which facilitates in situ detection. The electrode was tested for the determination of Pb in coastal seawater samples. The detection limit for Pb was 0.15 nM in acetate buffer and 0.5 nM in seawater using a 2 min deposition time. Cadmium can be determined together with Pb but the sensitivity is about 10 lower. The Bi electrode compares unfavourably to a mercury electrode in terms of sensitivity.

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Carbon, gold and silver microwires are revisited under vibrated conditions for detection of trace lead and cadmium in seawater. The Pb and Cd peaks fully overlapped on the bare gold and carbon electrodes and partially on the silver electrode. The sensitivity of all three was insufficient for detection in uncontaminated waters. Peak separation was obtained after coating with mercury (Hg). Only the Hg‐coated silver electrode is suitable when preplated. Limits of detection for Pb using the Hg/C and Hg/Ag electrodes (20–40 pM), and Cd (70 pM), are sufficiently low for Pb and Cd detection in seawater.