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This data compilation contains previously published threshold concentrations of copper and cadmium of phytoplankton in open and coastal oceans. The data was recalculated to nmol/L for consistency, assuming the following molar masses of copper and cadmium as 63.546 and 112.411, respectively, and salinity as 1.025 kg/L. The temperature and salinity provided by the authors were also included, in case there is a desire for future users to utilise different conversion methods to recalculate original data. Only data with information on whether the authors measured the trace metal concentrations in open or coastal marine environments were included, along with the name of the phytoplankton. The oceans were divided into geographical sections, namely the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Southern Ocean, and subsequently further subdivided according to the information authors have given in their publications. In this context, several chemically diverse seas were included in geographical regions in order to limit the number of broad ocean regimes. Chemically diverse sub-regimens were, however, considered within each geographical grouping.