[en] The current nuclear methods which can be used for the analysis of inorganic pollutants or tracers, including radioactive species in sediments and in their associated atmospheric and aqueous media are summarized. Nuclear techniques allow many trace elements to be analyzed in the ppM to ppB range in both field and laboratory experiments. For direct in situ field measurements, techniques of x-ray fluorescence and neutron activation analysis are discussed. Direct instrumental techniques, as well as chemical procedures enhancing their effectiveness, are discussed as they are applied in laboratory analysis. Radioactive pollutants or tracers can be measured through radiative emissions under laboratory and field conditions. In the laboratory, a few disintegrations per minute can be measured in thousand-gallon water volumes through the use of preanalysis concentration methods. Laboratory instrumentation discussed includes x-ray fluorescence analyzers, total absorption gamma ray spectrometry, multidimensional coincidence gamma ray spectrometry, multidimensional gamma ray spectrometry with beta coincidence, dual Ge(Li) anticoincidence shielded systems, as well as single Ge(Li) and NaI(Tl)-Ge(Li) coincidence gamma ray spectrometers. Detection sensitivities for radioisotopes from fallout and those produced by neutron activation analysis methods are presented