The effect of nitric acid/organic aerosols on the emission intensity of metals from the first row transition series, plus Cd and Pb was investigated. The addition of organic solvents to reference solutions diminished the aerosol mean drop size, by reducing the surface tension of the solutions. Correlation between signal intensity and BEC with the main physical characteristics (surface tension and viscosity) of the nitric acid/acetic acid and nitric acid/alcohol solutions was studied. Analytical curves (0–2.0 fig ml−1) were evaluated using a matrix matching procedure, and detection limits indicated an improvement (ca 40%) in analytical performance as well as in linearity, sensitivity and precision.