Concentrations of various elements in seaweed and seawater from Shen'ao Bay, Nan'ao Island, Guangdong coast, China: Environmental monitoring and the bioremediation potential of the seaweed

Abstract

Seaweeds take up elements directly from seawater and have been widely employed in coastal field studies of trace element contamination. In our study, the contents of the elements, K, P, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Se, were determined from eight dominant seaweeds and the seawater from Shen'ao bay, Nan'ao Island. The levels of Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn, Cd and Pb in the seaweeds showed similar contents. Moreover, B and Se levels were in a similar pattern as those reported from other coastal areas. Rhodophyta showed higher contents and bioconcentration factors (BCF) of B than Chlorophyta or Phaeophyta. Chlorophyta had greater contents of Fe, Ni and Pb than either Rhodophyta or Phaeophyta. U. fasciata is a good biomonitor and strong accumulator of Ni and Pb, G. lemaneiformis of Zn, Cr and Se, and S. fusiforme of Cu and Cd. Our data, along with those from other investigators, can help interpret the biomonitoring data and the design of biomonitoring programs for the protection and management of coastal environments.