Sulfur, Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, Mercury, and Nickel in Marine Ecosystems: Accumulation, Distribution, and Environmental Effects.

Abstract

This chapter deals with aspects concerning the presence of sulfur, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel in marine environments. For each of these elements, information about their natural and anthropic sources, as well as their toxicity and accumulation in different organisms, was provided. It was shown that the total accumulation of aluminum, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel in physical marine compartments (water, particulate matter, and sediments) is not necessarily related to the bioaccumulation of these elements, since many aspects concerning the bioavailability (including chemical speciation) should be considered.

Keywords: Chemical Speciation, Bioaccumulation, Human Health.

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