Provides environmental and analytical chemists with an overview of quality assurance and quality control principles as applied to environmental monitoring, in the context of European regulations. Describes the precautions that must be taken during the stages of sample collection, and the storage and pre-treatment of the water, sediment, soil, and plant matrices containing contaminants, including trace elements, nutrients, and organic compounds. The chapters focus on such aspects as biological specimens, surface water sampling, nutrients dissolved in marine samples, analyzing chlorobiphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine matrices, trace metal in soils and aquatic biota, and a model for a monitoring program. Produced under the auspices of the European Commission.