Matrix effects of the elements on the sensitivity of inductived plasma coupled mass spectrometry measurements : Since the development of the ICP-MS in the years 1980, some applications remain difficult. The problems involved in the determination of the traces in charged matrix persist and the assumption of an intrinsic limitation to the technique was mentioned. Two key parameters of the ICP-MS performances are tolerance with strong contents easily ionisable salts on one hand and refractory oxide formation of the other hand.