The determination of trace metals in cladophora glomerata— c. glomerata as a potential biological monitor

Abstract

A differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry method has been developed for the determination of Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu in Cladophora glomerata. The method has been applied to samples taken in August from a remote island in Lake Ontario (Main Duck) and a shore site near Kingston, Ontario (Deadman Bay). Trace metal contents and concentration factors (CF) for the two samples are: Zn Cd Pb Cu Deadman Bay 23.7 3.9 9.5 7.2 μ/g CF/10 3 2.9 49 16 2.2 Main Duck 8.2 1.4 12.2 6.4 μg/g CF/10 3 1.0 18 20 1.9 The concentration factors are the ratio of metal content in the Cladophora (μg/g) to the best value for the metal content of filtered Lake Ontario water (μg/ml); the factors range from 1.0 × 10 3 to 49 × 10 3 for the samples and elements studied. It is postulated that C. glomerata can act as a biological monitor, concentrating the trace metals present in the aqueous environment with a reasonably constant CF for each element.