Various decomposition methods were examined for the determination of 21 elements in atmospheric particulates. Alkali fusion with sodium carbonate and boric acid was selected for the determination of Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Ba and Cr, decomposition with HF-HNO3-HCl for Na, K, Pb, Zn, Cd, Co, Cu, Li, Ni and V and decomposition with HF-HNO3-H2SO4-KMnO4 for As and Sb. The determinations were carried out using hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry for As and Sb, air-acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrometry for Cr, Ca, Co, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, K, Li, Na, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn and dinitrogen oxide-acetylene flame atomic absorption spectrometry for the other elements. The performance of the recommended procedure was confirmed by analysing the National Bureau of Standards, Standard Reference Material 1648 Urban Particulate Matter. The recommended procedure was applied to the analysis of total atmospheric particulates and of particulates smaller than 10 µm.