Determination of metals in seaweeds used as food by inductively coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry

Seaweed used as foods were analysed by inductively-coupled plasma atomic-emission spectrometry (1CP-AES) for As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Pb, Sr and Zn. The samples have been digested with nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide in a microwave oven prior to the analysis. Accuracy and precision were tested with CRM No 279 (Ulva lactuca) Standard Reference Material (BCR, Brussels). The concentrations obtained were within 5% of the certified or informative values. The results obtained in the analysis of four differents species of seaweed samples collected in two differents geographical areas indicated in μg/g dry weight for Ca, Na, K, and Mg, were in the range 2303-99360 and for the minor and trace of the elements in the wide range 0.98-167. Sr was in the range 19-4370 μg/g. There is a relation between mineral concentration in seaweeds of similar species, but different geographical areas seem to have no influence on the results. © 1995 Elsevier, Paris