Indeed the extent of its use has exceeded my expectations. Sir Francis Bacon Based on citations in the literature, it is evident the first edition, entitled Trace Elements in the Terrestrial Environment (1986), met its primary ob jective, which was to provide students and professionals with a comprehen sive book in many important aspects of trace elements in the environment. Knowledge is not to be sought Jor the pleasures oJ the mind, or Jor contention, or Jor superiority to others, or Jor profit, or Jame, or power, or any oJ these inJerior things, but Jor the benefit and use oJ life.