Philippine E-Journals

Sargassum, Padina and Turbinaria as bioindicators of cadmium in Bais Bay, Negros Oriental

Ma. Tefhanie G. Ho | Venus Bantoto-Kinamot

 

Abstract:

Marine pollution is becoming one of the global environmental problems around the world. Heavy metal concentrations in the environment is 100-1,000 folds higher than those in the Earth’s crust due to anthropogenic sources. The use of algae as bioindicators of metal pollution and the effective removal of toxic metal ions has received increasing attention. Brown algae is thought to be excellent in the sequestration of metal. In this study, cadmium (Cd) concentration in the thalli of Sargassum sp., Padina sp. and Turbinaria sp. from North Bais Bay, Negros Oriental was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The concentration of cadmium in the sediment of North Bais Bay was also determined because environmental pollutants could also accumulate in the sediment. Results of this study showed the cadmium contamination in Bais Bay, wherein Sargassum sp., Padina sp., and Turbinaria sp. absorbed these cadmium ions. Sargassum sp. had the highest concentration of cadmium which ranged from 2.14 to 4.45 mg kg- 1. The concentration of cadmium in Padina sp. and Turbinaria sp. ranged from 2.2 to 3.4 mg kg-1 and 2.36 to 2.76 mg kg-1, respectively. The concentration of cadmium in the sediment ranged from 3.72 to 5.53 mg kg-1 dry weight. This indicates that these brown algal species could be utilized as bioindicators of cadmium contamination in marine waters and possible phytoremediation of cadmium in wastewater.