A first report of rare earth elements in northwestern Mediterranean seaweeds

Abstract

11The concentrations of rare earth elements (REE) were determined by ICP-MS in dominant seaweed 12 species, collected from three locations of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. This is the first study 13 to define levels and patterns of REE in macro algae from these coastal areas.14 Rare elements are becoming emerging inorganic contaminants in marine ecosystems, due to their 15 worldwide increasing applications in industry, technology, medicine and agriculture. 16Significant inter-site and interspecies differences were registered, with higher levels of REE in 17 brown and green macro algae than in red seaweeds. Levels of light REE were also observed to be 18 greater compared to heavy REE in all samples. 19One of the investigated locations (Bergeggi, SV) had higher REE and ΣREE concentrations, 20 probably due to its proximity to an important commercial and touristic harbor, while the other two 21 sites were less affected by anthropogenic contaminations, and showed comparable REE patterns 22 and lower concentrations. 24Capsule: rare earth elements in seaweeds 25 26

Risks and benefits of consuming edible seaweeds

“…Preliminary research shows that increased water temperatures can increase mercury absorption by fish, and the same biosorption of mercury may occur in seaweed 227 . Considering global warming, trends in the heavy metal content of seaweed should also be monitored; likewise, the presence of rare earth elements, recently identified in northwest Mediterranean seaweeds, should be watched 228 . The placental transfer of heavy metals from mother to fetus can cause neurological, developmental, and endocrine disorders in infants 230 , 231 .…”

87Sr/86Sr and trace element mapping of geosphere-hydrosphere-biosphere interactions: A case study in Ireland

“…Independently, the REE have emerged as a powerful tracer of water source, water mixing, and aqueous processes (e.g. Noack et al, 2014;Pourret et al, 2010;Tweed et al, 2006), in addition to chemical weathering process and soil formation (Babechuk et al, 2014;Condie, 1991;Hu et al, 2006;Laveuf and Cornu, 2009;Nesbitt, 1979), and studies of plant material (Brioschi et al, 2013;Miao et al, 2011;Squadrone et al, 2017;Thomas et al, 2014;Tyler, 2004).…”

Review of the concentration, bioaccumulation, and effects of lanthanides in marine systems

“…The highest concentrations for all REEs studied were in algae. Maximum values for all REEs were discovered in algae species collected in the Marine Protected Area of the Ligurian Sea (Squadrone et al, 2017) that despite being a preserved area is heavily influenced by the proximity of an industrial and commercial harbor with a high shipping traffic. The highest content in algae is in accordance with the data observed in a review performed by Squadrone et al (2019), where the highest values of total REE accumulation were found in seaweed (macroalgae), reaching 62 mg REEs/kg, from Peninsular Malaysia.…”

“…Fractionation of REEs is also observed when their concentrations in organisms are studied, being the free form of REEs preferably assimilated by the organisms (Strady et al, 2015). In solution, there is a small fraction of free REEs, mostly free LREEs, readily to be incorporated into organisms (Strady et al, 2015;Yang et al, 2016;Li et al, 2016;Squadrone et al, 2017) and thus rendering LREEs a potential major biological impact. Another explanation for the REE fractionation in seawater points to diatom involvement (Akagi, 2013).…”