Highly boron-doped diamond (BDD) films were utilized for simultaneous electrochemical measurement of micromolar-level concentrations of Pb and Cd, and for the examination of their interactions. Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) was used for this detection. This approach can help to understand the possible detection of trace metals at BDD electrodes without the aid of mercury. These metals were found to strip at their characteristic potentials, in solutions containing Cd or Pb alone, and in those containing these metals together. The mixed solutions (concentration range: 1-5 muM) yielded well-separated stripping peaks for Pb and Cd and the differential stripping peak currents for the respective metals increased linearly with increasing metal concentration. There were mutual interferences due to Pb-Cd interactions, but these can be taken into account with the aid of three-dimensional calibration plots. A model has been developed to help explain the Pb-Cd interactions. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.