Abstract.A preconcentration method for nickel in waters involving adsorption on tungsten foil, followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) with a tungsten tube atomizer is described. The most suitable pH for nickel adsorption was 5 and the optimum immersion time was 2 rain. Severe interferences from co-existing elements (A1, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Pb and Zn) on the Ni AA signal were observed. Under optimal conditions, the preconcentration of nickel on W foil could eliminate interferences from these elements. The detection limit of nickel by preconcentration-ETAAS was 0.1 ng/ml (3S/N). The method with preconcentration on tungsten foil was applied to the determination of nickel in river water. The recovery of spiked nickel was 93-102%. The tungsten foil preconcentration method is sensitive, simple, and convenient. This adsorption method can be utilized in in situ-sampling of ultra-trace nickel in environmental samples (water). Furthermore, after sampling it is easy to carry and store the W-foil without contamination for long time.Key words: preconcentration, adsorption on tungsten foil, nickel, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, water.Nickel, even in small concentrations, has severe shortand long-term effects on the health of individuals, e.g. carcinogenic and atopic dermatitis [1,2]. Trace nickel is present from natural sources as well as from contaminated water arising from manufactures. Many countries have established quality standards of drinking-water, for example 0.05 gg/ml for nickel in France * To whom correspondence should be addressed Tab'yankina [15] presented the determination of trace nickel by DC arc atomic emission spectrometry (AES) with 2-mercaptobenzthiazole/polyacrylonitrile fiber sorbent. Carboxymethyl cellulose 8-hydroxy-s-sulfo-7-quinolyl ester (oxine CM-cellulose) [16] and ICP-MS with I-8-HOQ column [17] have been used for Ni determination by ICP-mass spectrometry (MS). Most of these methods are, however, complicated and time-consuming. Adsorption on tungsten metal is a simple, conventional, low cost, and time saving preconcentration method. Wolff et al. [18] reported the preconcentration of Cd, Cu, Pb, Ag and Zn in water at the ng/1 level by adsorption onto tungsten wire. Hoshino et al. [19] and Newton et al. [20] described GFAAS with tungsten wire preconcentration for Ag, Cd, Co, Cr,