Mercury in cultured oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg, 1793 and C. corteziensis Hertlein, 1951) from four coastal lagoons of the SE Gulf of California, Mexico.

In order to determine the mercury concentrations in cultured oysters from coastal lagoons (SE Gulf of California), several individuals of Crassostrea gigas and C. corteziensis were collected and their mercury levels were measured with a cold vapor analyzer. The mean concentrations during the rainy and dry seasons, respectively, were 0.70 and 0.15 microg g(-1) in C. gigas and 0.56 and 0.18 microg g(-1) in C. corteziensis. During the rainy season, elevated mercury contents are apparently related to terrigen transport from the watershed, while during the dry season, the moderate levels are related to upwellings.