A mixture of palladium and magnesium nitrates was found to be a very powerful modifier for the determination of As, Bi, In, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Te and Tl in graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Thermal pretreatment temperatures of 900-1400°C can be used with the proposed modifier. This is in most cases substantially more than what can be applied with the modifiers recommended up to now, so that separation of the analyte from the concomitants should be easier. This is shown to be true for the determination of lead in sea water and of selenium in biological materials. Optimum atomization temperatures are more uniform and typically around 2000°C for the investigated elements when the palladium and magnesium nitrates mixed modifier is used. This modifier therefore allows the use of common conditions for all the investigated elements with a minimum sacrifice in sensitivity, an important pre-requirement for multi-element furnace techniques. The proposed mixed modifier also minimizes the risk of contamination because palladium as well as magnesium nitrate can be obtained in high purity, and both elements are infrequently determined in the graphite furnace.