The accumulation levels of heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Sr, & Ag) in marine algae from southwest coast of India

Abstract

In the context of use of marine algae as biological indicators of heavy metal pollution in coastal waters, six species of marine algae collected from the southwest coast of India were analysed for the levels of heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Sr, and Ag). Interspecies and interclass variations were determined on a spatial and temporal scale. The metal contents varied in the ranges, Ni: 0.20–21.06 µg g−1 (mean = 10.13 µg g−1), Cr: non-detectable level (ND)–37.18 µg g−1 (mean = 13.86 µg g−1), Sr: 2.19–103.90 µg g−1 (mean = 29.40 µg g−1), and Ag: ND–6.39 µg g−1 (mean = 1.80 µg g−1). Ni and Cr contents were of similar magnitude to those reported for algae from polluted areas.