Laser excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LEAFS), uslng an exclmer pumped dye laser wlth a Perkln-Elmer HGASOO graphite furnace, was used to determlne thalllum In blologlcal samples at levels lower than those detectable by graphite furnace atomic absorptlon spectrometry. Modern furnace technology was applled, lncludlng rapidly heated graphlte tube furnaces, L'vov platforms, matrlx modiflers, optlmum charring of the matrlx, and the measurement of peak areas of the signals. The Instrumental LEAFS detection limit for thalkm was 6 fg. The naturally occurring level of thallum In mouse bralns, as determlned by LEAFS, was 870 pglbraln wlth a relatlve standard devlatlon of 29% for nine bralns. Thalllum In NBS bovine h e r was determlned by LEAFS to be 2.9 ng/g, which agrees, wlthln experimental error, wlth the noncertlfled value of 3.1 ng/g.