A study has been made to determine the effects of residual and minor elements on the resistance to pitting and on atmospheric corrosion of austenitic stainless steels. The technical literature has been reviewed, and some new experimental studies performed. Information is provided on Ag, B, C, Ce, Cb, Co, Cu, Mo, N, P, Pb, Re, S, Si, Sn, Ta, Te, Ti, V, W, and Zr. The conditions considered include industrial, marine, and rural atmospheres, automotive service, and all environments producing pitting. The results suggest that for the elements studied, the effects on pitting resistance relate to alloying behavior. Elements present in solid solution may have essentially no effect or may be beneficial if they tend to promote passivity. In general, they do not produce detrimental effects. Elements present as metallic second phases may have essentially no effect or may be beneficial. In general, metallic second phases do not produce detrimental effects. Elements present in nonmetallic second phases are generally detrimental.