[Marine ecotoxicology and heavy metals in the Mediterranean sea].

Marine ecotoxicology has been developed by the acquisition of new methods of measurements. Among them, "in vitro" biological marine chains allow the evaluation of the risks for the environment and the public health. The study of the heavy metals in the Mediterranean atmosphere, seawater and fauna allows the evaluation of their pollution and the detection of its origin. The comparison of the "in situ" measurements with those of the "in vitro" trophic models shows the interest of the methodology.