Flameless atomic absorption spectrometry is applied for the determination of Pb in coal, coal ash and fly ash. Lead concentrations in coal and coal ash ranging from respectively 7 to 110 µg g−1 and 120 to 450 µg g−1 are found. A mean concentration of 1520 µg g−1 in fly ash corresponding to a concentration of 117 µg m−3 in the effluent gas suggests the importance of coal combustion as an atmospheric source of Ph. The contribution of coal combustion to the total Pb emissions is conservatively estimated at 6%.