Critical components of the total analytical process for the trace determination of metals, metalloids and their species in environmental biological specimens are highlighted. Examples are given of phenomena that may accompany ''established'' monitoring techniques but cause problems in the transformation of the original chemical composition of the bioindicators into scientifically sound analytical data and environmental information. It turns out that more problem-specific analytical developments are necessary in the field of environmental biomonitoring, in particular for the introduction of rigorously validated procedures of speciation analysis.