Analytical and bioanalytical problems associated with the toxicity of elemental sulfur in the environment

•Elemental sulfur can display strong toxic properties in live organisms and plants.•The concentration of elemental sulfur in sediments depends on location and depth.•The presence of sulfur in the sample extract may influence interpretation of results.

We summarize the state of knowledge on the toxicity and the bioavailability of elemental sulfur. We also present: analytical methods used to determine the elemental sulfur content of samples with complex matrices; and, problems and difficulties encountered while using biotests for samples containing elemental sulfur.