A new chemically modified electrode was constructed for rapid, simple, accurate, selective and highly sensitive simultaneous determination of lead and cadmium using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). The electrode was prepared by incorporation of new synthesized Schiff base and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in carbon paste electrode. The limit of detection was found to be 0.25 ng mL(-1) and 0.74 ng mL(-1) for Pb2+ and Cd2+, respectively. The stability constants of the complexes of the ligand with several metal cations in ethanol medium were determined. The effects of different cations and anions on the simultaneous determination of metal ions were studied and it was found that the electrode is highly selective. The proposed chemically modified electrode was used for the determination of lead and cadmium in several foodstuffs and water samples. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.