THE HEAVY-METALS CONTENT IN SEDIMENTS, BIOTA AND MACROALGAE SAMPLES COLLECTED AT VLORA BAY

Heavy metals concentrations in sediments, biota and macroalgae collect ed in Vlora Bay, were found to be within the normal ranges reported fo r Mediterranean coastal waters. However, sediments taken near a chlor- alkali plant demonstrated an unusually high mercury content, when comp ared to other stations in Vlora Bay and other Albanian coastal zones. The determinations were carried out using Flame, ETA and CV AAS techni ques. The accuracy has been verified using biota and sediment referenc e materials of the International Laboratory of Marine Radioactivity, M onaco. The ANOVA technique was used for the treatment of data.