Preliminary results on the mercury content in Citharus linguatula (L:) in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea

The concentrations of Hg in superficial marine sediments and in muscle tissue of speciments of Citharus linguatula L. were determined in several zones of the northern Tyrrhenian sea. The average content of the metal found in the organism studied is very high and increases with the length of the specimens, displaying a different trend in the various zones. Additionally, an inverse relation was observed between Hg concentrations in C. linguatula and the metal content in the sediments of the studied zones. Consideration is given to the dangers of frequent consumption of this fish and to further research to understand the relation between the concentration of Hg in C. linguatula and in its environment.