Application of X-ray Microanalysis for the Detection of Heavy Metals in Great Lakes Algae

Abstract

A combination of scanning electron miscroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) was found to be a very effective tool for characterizing the heavy metal load of Great Lakes phytoflagellates, diatoms, and green algae, and for the surveillance of heavy metal pollution. The sensitivity and short generation time of nannoplankton and the speed of the described technique makes this procedure a useful aid in contaminants research.Key words: scanning electron microscopy, X-ray microanalysis, nannoplankton, heavy metals, algae, phytoflagellates, Great Lakes, contaminants, bioaccumulation