Mediterranean coastal areas are widely affected by potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminations. In this study, marine macroalgae have been investigated as potential tools for PTE bioremediation of coastal waters affected by different anthropogenic activities. To reach this goal, PTEs mainly deriving from agricultural/feedstock activities (K, Mg, P, S) and from urban/industrial activities (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) were analyzed in red (Corallina elongata Ellis & Solander 1786, Jania rubens Lamouroux 1816 and Laurencia microcladia Kützing 1849), brown (Cystoseira compressa Gerloff & Nizamuddin 1975 and Dictyota spiralis Montagne 1846) and green (Ulva clathrata Agardh 1811 and Ulva compressa Linnaeus, 1753) algae. In February 2022, macroalgae were handpicked in the eulittoral and upper infralittoral zone (up to a depth of ~ 2.0 m), in six sites along the Cilento coast (Campania, Italy), in the Mediterranean area, characterized by different anthropogenic pressures. In laboratory, they were mechanically cleaned using plastic tools, oven-dried (75 °C), manually pulverized and digested in an acid mixture in a microwave oven. PTE concentrations were quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. One-way ANOVAs, followed by Tukey's post hoc tests, highlighted significant differences in PTE concentrations among species. The highest concentrations of PTEs deriving from agricultural/feedstock activities were observed in selected red (L. microcladia) and brown (C. compressa) algae and the highest concentrations of PTEs deriving from urban/industrial activities in selected red (L. microcladia) and green (U. clathrata) algae. Despite the large specificity of the studied macroalgae toward the accumulation of different PTEs, in the case of multi-PTE contamination, often occurring in anthropized ecosystems, L. microcladia appeared especially suitable to bioremediate Mediterranean coastal areas. Indeed, besides the high PTE accumulation capability of a broad spectrum of PTEs, it is also characterized by a high biomass.
Use of marine macroalgae for PTE bioremediation of coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea
Nitopi M.
;Bellino A.;Baldi V.;Baldantoni D.
2023-01-01
Abstract
Mediterranean coastal areas are widely affected by potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminations. In this study, marine macroalgae have been investigated as potential tools for PTE bioremediation of coastal waters affected by different anthropogenic activities. To reach this goal, PTEs mainly deriving from agricultural/feedstock activities (K, Mg, P, S) and from urban/industrial activities (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) were analyzed in red (Corallina elongata Ellis & Solander 1786, Jania rubens Lamouroux 1816 and Laurencia microcladia Kützing 1849), brown (Cystoseira compressa Gerloff & Nizamuddin 1975 and Dictyota spiralis Montagne 1846) and green (Ulva clathrata Agardh 1811 and Ulva compressa Linnaeus, 1753) algae. In February 2022, macroalgae were handpicked in the eulittoral and upper infralittoral zone (up to a depth of ~ 2.0 m), in six sites along the Cilento coast (Campania, Italy), in the Mediterranean area, characterized by different anthropogenic pressures. In laboratory, they were mechanically cleaned using plastic tools, oven-dried (75 °C), manually pulverized and digested in an acid mixture in a microwave oven. PTE concentrations were quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. One-way ANOVAs, followed by Tukey's post hoc tests, highlighted significant differences in PTE concentrations among species. The highest concentrations of PTEs deriving from agricultural/feedstock activities were observed in selected red (L. microcladia) and brown (C. compressa) algae and the highest concentrations of PTEs deriving from urban/industrial activities in selected red (L. microcladia) and green (U. clathrata) algae. Despite the large specificity of the studied macroalgae toward the accumulation of different PTEs, in the case of multi-PTE contamination, often occurring in anthropized ecosystems, L. microcladia appeared especially suitable to bioremediate Mediterranean coastal areas. Indeed, besides the high PTE accumulation capability of a broad spectrum of PTEs, it is also characterized by a high biomass.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
