The average yearly and semestral concentrations of some metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, V and Cd) contained in the suspended particulate of three different sites in the Venice area, are presented. The 24-h concentrations of the five metals fit a log-normal distribution. The correlation coefficients between metals, and between metals and sulphur dioxide, suspended particles, and sulphates are also reported; they are very high in the insular zone (historical centre of Venice). This is not found for cadmium, which shows a different behaviour with respect to the other metals. Cadmium is the only pollutant studied whose concentration is higher in the insular urban zone than in the industrial and urban zones of the mainland.