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.
