Mercury in algae of the Canary Islands littoral

The concentrations of Hg in three groups of algae ( Phaeophyta, Chlorophyta , and Rhodophyta ) found in the Canary Islands littoral were determined. The mean concentrations found were, respectively: Phaeophyta : 0.13 mg kg −1 (range 0.01 to 2.30 mg kg −1 ); Chlorophyta : 0.13 (range 0.025 to 0.36 mg kg −1 ); Rhodophyta : 0.11 mg kg −1 (range 0.02 to 0.28 mg kg −1 ). There are no relevant differences in the contents of Hg at group level and at species level, only a sample of Phaeophyta presents an abnormally high concentration (>1 mg kg −1 ), corresponding to a sampling station nearby an urban drain.