The utility of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrometry for trace determination of various chlorinated pesticides including chlordan, carbophenothion, bromophos, methyl chloropyrifos, dichloran, linuron, and 1-hydroxychlordene is described. Silver-coated substrates consisting of submicron spheres on solid surfaces were used as SERS-active media. The detection limits for these pesticides are at nanogram levels. The sensitivity and spectral selectivity of this technique for toxic chemical agents are discussed. The results indicate that SERS shows promise for the determination of an important class of chlorinated pesticides. © 1988.