Chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides and mercury in coastal biota, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands--1972-74.

Baseline levels of mercury and chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined for Caribbean coastal biota as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estuarine monitoring program. Forty-one percent of the 150 environmental samples taken had significant levels of these compounds. Concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons suggest spatial and temporal variations within the plant or animal. In some cases residues in biota could be related to the land-use practices in the sampled watershed.