Concentrations of mercury, cadmium and lead were determined in the soft tissue of four types of marine organisms (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk., Murex trunculus, Serranus scriba and Serranus cabrilla), collected along the Italian coasts from Genoa (Ligurian Sea) to Termoli (Adriatic Sea) in the summer of 1986. The analyses were performed by the electrothermal (cadmium and lead) and cold vapour (mercury) atomic absorption techniques. Levels of metals in Mytilus galloprovincialis were for the most part low, except at a few sites. Murex trunculus contained higher mean concentrations of mercury and cadmium and lower concentrations of lead. In Serranus scriba and Serranus cabrilla, mean levels of mercury were 316+/-154 and 181+/-86-mu-g l-1 fresh weight, respectively, and the levels of cadmium and lead were generally below the detection limits calculated for both these elements.