Mercury concentrations in marine species from the coastal area of Tarragona Province, Spain. Dietary intake of mercury through fish and seafood consumption.

A total of 592 samples of 21 species of fish, cephalopods, crustaceans and molluscs were analyzed for mercury concentrations between November 1992 and February 1993 at four sites on the Tarragona coast in Catalonia, Spain. The results of this study show that mercury discharges into the marine environment of Tarragona Province have increased the mercury content of marine organisms, with fish and crustaceans being the groups which accumulated the highest levels of this element. In a subsequent study, the individual dietary intake of mercury from fish and seafood consumption by the population of Tarragona Province was estimated to be 16 micrograms day-1. This intake of mercury would not signify a health hazard for consumers of fish and seafood from the Tarragona coastal waters.