The potential of universal calibration using capillary gas chromatography combined with atomic emission detection was evaluated for several chlorine- and sulphur-containing compounds of environmental interest. The elemental responses obtained for C, H, Cl and S were found to be affected by the molecular structure. Rapid determination of several analytes was accomplished using a single calibration graph based on one randomly selected reference compound, but 10-30% errors relative to the actual concentrations were observed in several instances. The results were significantly improved by using reference compounds with structures similar to those of the analytes of interest. the practical utility of universal calibration is illustrated by the determination of pesticides in stomach oil deposits from birds living in Antarctica.