Concentrations of heavy metals in macroalgae in the tropical western Atlantic

Abstract

Studies of heavy metal (copper, lead, zinc and iron) in two species of red macroalgae Gracilariopsis carolinensis Liao and Hommersand and Hypnea musciformis (Wulfen) Lamouroux were carried out to monitor the level of bioavailable metals in coastal areas. The macroalgae and hydrological data were sampled in two areas, at the north and south littoral of Pernambuco (Brazil). The metal concentrations were measured by Atomic Emission Spectrophotometer with Inductive Coupled Plasma. Water temperature ranged from 28 to 31 o C, salinity from 26.4 to 36.9 UPS and dissolved oxygen from 2.43 to 6.37 mL.L -1 . Higher metal concentrations were detected in the south coast, where Hypnea musciformis presented greater retention capacity. A Principal Components Analysis was performed and explained 50.45% of the total data variability. Rainfall presented an important role in the algae metal content. The median metal concentrations of G. carolinensis in the North area were: iron 141 g. . No significant (p<0.05) seasonal changes in metal concentration and no distribution pattern were observed in the studied area.

Metal(Loid)s in Aquatic Products and Their Potential Health Risk

“…Based on the maximum Cu level in O. gigas Thunberg (73.90 mg kg − 1 w.w.) and PTWI Cu (TableS4), the maximum intake amount of O. gigas Thunberg per week is 2.8 kg w.w.The concentrations of Fe in seaweeds varied from 35.9 to 1264.3 mg kg − 1 d.w. (Table1) and were higher than those from the southeast coast of India (6.1-188.47 mg kg − 1 d.w.) (Thodhal Yoganandham et al 2019) but similar to those from Hypnea sp. in Brazil (279-1163 mg kg − 1 d.w.)(Macedo et al 2009). The concentrations of Fe in the aquatic animals (Table1) were lower than in seaweeds.…”