The investigation of metal pollution of algae in Eastern Mediterranean  <B>The investigation of metal pollution of algae in Eastern Mediterranean</B><P>I. Bildaci1, H. Evliya2 and Z. Kilic3</B><I><P> 1 Hacettepe University, Environmental Research and Application Center, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey <BR> 2 Cukurova Univ., Centre for Environmental Research, Balcali, Adana, Turkey <BR> 3 Turkish Atomic Energy Agency, Saray, Ankara, Turkey</I><P> Abstract<P> In this study the metal contamination of green, brown and red algae samples collected from Mersin and Ulucinar coasts of Mediterranean Sea were studied. The tested algae were : Green Enteromorpha linza, Enteromorpha intestinalis; Brown Cystoseira sp. Sargassum vulgare, Padina pavonia, Hypnea sp.; Red Jania rubens. The analyzed metals were : Ag, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn. The comparison among the algae showed the highest contamination of Ag, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn in brown algae, whilst Hg, Ni in red algae. The comparison of the Aegean, Black Sea and Mediterranean algae revealed that the metal content of algae, excluding Cr, was lower in the Mediterranean Sea algae. In addition, the results were compared with the other data of the world seas.<P>