Element concentrations in marine macroalgae of Tuticorin coastal waters, Southeast coast of India

1307-1315The metal accumulation in six seaweeds species collected from coastal waters of Tuticorin, Southern India was analysed. The range of metals concentration found in macroalgae were Al (0.048-1.708 μg g-1), B (0.000-0.045 μg g-1), Cd (0.001-0.004 μg g-1), Co (0.000-0.005 μg g-1), Cr (0.007-0.035 μg g-1), Cu (0.005-0.065 μg g-1), Fe (0.013-1.048 μg g-1), Mg (3.066-9.325 μg g-1), Mn (0.002-0.079 μg g-1), Ni (0.001-0.013 μg g-1), Pb (0.002-0.008 μg g-1), Zn (0.001-2.522 μg g-1) and Hg (0.001-0.033 μg g-1). Concentration of Mg (3.066-9.325 μg g-1) was maximum in almost all the seaweeds, whereas Co and B were minimum. Concentrations of toxic metals such as Cd, Co, Ni and Pb were well below the permissible limits proposed by the World Health Organization