Volatile species of Pb, Cd and Zn were generated at room temperature by the addition of sodium tetrahydroborate(III) to an acidified solution of the analytes. The vapor-phase species were quickly adsorbed into a thin layer of highly porous hydrogel which was dip-coated on screen printed electrode for electrochemical detection using square wave anodic stripping voltammetric method. The square wave voltammetric stripping response is highly linear over the 10-80 ng range of Pb, Cd and Zn examined (2 min deposition), with a detection limit of 1 ng and good precision (RSD 7.4%). The attractive behavior of the new disposable carbon strip electrodes hold great promise for a simple, rapid, sensitive on-site real-time detection of trace metal vapors. (C) 2010 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.