Comparative Analysis of the Heavy Metal, Aluminum, and Arsenic Contents in Brown Algae of Various Origins

Abstract

The results of measurements of trace element contents in brown algae of the families Laminariales and Fucales of different origins are presented, along with supplementary data from the literature. Aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, mercury, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc concentrations in the biomass of brown algae were found to be affected primarily by the technogenic factor, while strontium concentrations are affected by the geographic latitude of the region in which they grew. In the case of arsenic, no relationship was found between accumulation in algae and the level of pollution or the geographic region in which the algae were collected. Arsenic was found to accumulate better in Laminariales, while aluminum, iron, copper, and manganese in brown algae of the family Fucales. As regards cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, zinc, chromium, and strontium, differences in accumulation in members of the two families were comparable with differences between species within a single family. We conclude that there is a need to develop additional criteria for standardization of brown algae.