Trace elemental analysis by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy—Biological applications

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) is a sensitive optical technique capable of fast multi-elemental analysis of solid, gaseous and liquid samples. Since the late 1980s LIBS became visible in the analytical atomic spectroscopy scene; its applications having been developed continuously since then. In this paper, the use of LIBS for trace element determination in different matrices is reviewed. The main emphasis is on spatially resolved analysis of microbiological, plant and animal samples.