This study describes a method for determining lead and cadmium in freeze dried samples of normal human lung tissue. The samples were digested with redistilled HNO3in a Teflon 19lined steel bomb. Although background absorption was monitored, no corrections were necessary as any organic residue not initially digested is easily removed during the ash stage of the atomizer cycle. This method of sample preparation and analysis easily can be used to deal with other biological samples and could be readily extended to biopsy size samples.