Heavy Metal Bioaccumulation in Enteromorpha intestinalis, (L.) Nees, a Macrophytic Algae: The Example of Kadin Creek (Western Anatolia)

Abstract

This study aims to specify the amount of ten heavy metals (Al, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in water, sediment and Enteromorpha intestinalis samples gathered from Kadin Creek in seasonal periods in 2011 and 2012 and to reveal bioaccumulation capability of this macrophytic algae. In this regard, heavy metal concentrations in the gathered samples were determined first with mineralization and then via inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) method. Findings suggested that algae could be used as an indicator in freshwater ecosystems in terms of studied heavy metals. With regard to bioconcentration factor values, in terms of water, algae accumulated aluminum the most and cadmium the least (Al > Cu > As > Zn > Cr > Mn > Ni > Pb > Hg > Cd), in terms of sediment, it accumulated mercury the most and aluminum the least (Hg > Cd > As > Zn > Pb > Mn > Ni > Cr > Cu > Al). The highest rate of heavy metal concentration in algae was observed in summer when contaminants in water and dynamics of plant development increased. It was also observed that the mean mercury and cadmium concentrations exceeded the maximum residue limit values.