Total and inorganic arsenic in Antarctic macroalgae

The Antarctic region offers unparalleled possibilities of investigating the natural distribution of metals and metalloids, such as arsenic. Total and inorganic As were analysed in nine species of Antarctic macroalgae collected during the 2002 summer season in the Potter Cove area at Jubany–Dallmann...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2007-10, Vol.69 (7), p.1017-1024
Main Authors: Farías, Silvia, Smichowski, Patricia, Vélez, Dinoraz, Montoro, Rosa, Curtosi, Antonio, Vodopívez, Cristian
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Antarctic Regions
Antarctica
Arsenic
Arsenic - analysis
Biological and medical sciences
Ecosystem
Environmental Monitoring
Eukaryota - chemistry
Fresh Water - chemistry
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Himantothallus grandifolius
Inorganic arsenic
Marine
Myriogramme
Oceans and Seas
Phaeurus antarcticus
Sea water ecosystems
Soil - analysis
Synecology
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry
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Summary:The Antarctic region offers unparalleled possibilities of investigating the natural distribution of metals and metalloids, such as arsenic. Total and inorganic As were analysed in nine species of Antarctic macroalgae collected during the 2002 summer season in the Potter Cove area at Jubany–Dallmann Station (South Shetland Islands, Argentinian Base). Total As was determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion. Inorganic As was determined by acid digestion, solvent extraction, flow injection-hydride generation-atomic absorption spectrometry. Total As ranged from 5.8 μg g −1 dry weight (dw) ( Myriogramme sp.) to 152 μg g −1 dw ( Himantothallus grandifolius). Total As concentrations were higher in Phaeophytes (mean ± SD: 71 ± 44 μg g −1 dw) than in Rhodophytes (mean ± SD: 15 ± 11 μg g −1 dw). Inorganic As ranged from 0.12 μg g −1 ( Myriogramme sp.) to 0.84 μg g −1 dw ( Phaeurus antarcticus). The percentage of inorganic As with respect to total As was 0.7 for Phaeophytes, but almost 4 times higher for Rhodophytes (2.6). The work discusses possible causes for the presence of As in marine organisms in that pristine environment.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2007.04.049