Second International Conference on Trace Element Speciation in Biomedical, Nutritional and Environmental Sciences.

Abstract

The series of International Conferences on Trace Element Speciation at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen (formerly GSF National Research Center) in Munich Neuherbergs, Germany, was continued with the fourth meeting from 25th to 29th May 2008. The conference organizers Bernhard Michalke and Volker Nischwitz, together with the international scientific committee, could welcome 144 participants from 25 countries from all continents of the world. The conference programme included 11 invited lectures, 23 submitted oral presentations, 54 regular poster presentations, and 31 last-minute posters. Our aim for this conference was to provide an overview of the current status and performance of the multifaceted field of trace element speciation analysis. In particular we wanted to stress the interdisciplinary character of speciation analysis and the large variety of available techniques and methods. The conference programme was organised on eight scientific topics. A brief summary of the contributions within these topics will provide an overview on the broad range of presented applications and techniques.