The techniques of field analytical chemistry _FAC. have the potential to reduce both analysis time and cost byproviding analytical data on site while eliminating the need for sample collection and transport. These methods couldbe of considerable interest in the fields of environmental monitoring and industrial process control. Much of FAC isaccomplished through the use of portable analytical instruments. The emphasis of this review was on field-portableatomic spectrometry, with particular focus upon two techniques: laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy _LIBS. andtungsten coil atomic absorption spectrometry _W Coil AAS.. LIBS and W Coil AAS have been described in detail,with special attention to instrumentation, analytical performance, applications and examples of portable devices. Thetwo techniques were compared and found to be complimentary. Competing technology, not necessarily based uponatomic spectrometry, was also briefly discussed in order to provide a glimpse of the overall picture of FAC techniquesused for the determination of metals. These rival techniques include X-ray fluorescence spectrometry _XRF.,immunoassay, capillary electrophoresis _CE., and electrochemical sensors.