Heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Pb, Cu) concentrations in seaweed and sediments along the coastal areas of Hormuzgan province (Bandar Abbas and Bandar Lengeh)

Abstract

Metals concentrations were studied in dominant seaweeds and their adjacent sediments in Bandar Abbas and Bandar Lengeh tidal areas. The status of selected heavy metals (Ni, Cd, Pb, Cu) was determined in sediments and 15 dominant seaweed species including 4 species of Chlorophyta, 4 species of Phaeophyta and 7 species of Rhodophyta. Samples of seaweed and sediment were collected seasonally during November 2007 to August 2008 from intertidal regions of nine sites along the Bandar Abbas and Bandar Lengeh coasts. Powdered samples of sediments and seaweed were digested and analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (A.A.S). Concentrations of Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni were 5.24, 20.44, 5.40 and 33.83µg/g -1 dry wt. in sediments. Concentration of these metals in µg/g -1 dry weight in Chlorophyta were 11.11, 25.79, 4.76 and 46.57, in Phaeophyta were 9.18, 17.68, 4.82 and 36.65, and in Rhadophyta were 9.80, 21.03, 4.96 and 50.43, respectively. The marine seaweed species collected during all seasons and sites in Bandar Abbas and Bandar Lengeh were identified as Entromorpha compressa and Padina pavonica, respectively.