Purge gas flow rates influence significantly the peak height and the peak area signal obtained in GF-AAS. With vaporization from the wall and gas stop more than 20% of the atoms are lost by convection because of their forced removal from the furnace by the expanding purge gas. With vaporization from a platform and gas stop the atoms are removed from the furnace solely by diffusion. Increasing flow rates affect the signal more if vaporization is made from the wall.