Summary

A dozen articles review the current knowledge on the levels of heavy metals in marine environments (particularly in marine animals), the dynamic processes in such systems, the toxic effects, and the threats presented by heavy metals in foods of marine origin. They consider how various animals deal with heavy metals, for example by regulating the level or by detoxification and storage; the interaction of heavy metals with biological materials; individual, population, and ecosystem levels; and global cycling. Includes a case study of the exceptionally high metal intake among Greenlanders as an example of human exposure through the consumption of marine foods. Acidic paper. Annotation(c) 2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)