Assessment of Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals and Their Ecological Risk in Sea Lettuce (Ulva spp.) along the Coast Alexandria, Egypt: Implications for Sustainable Management

The pollution of aquatic ecosystems is an issue facing many countries all over the world and may result in issues such as eutrophication coastal zones. Managing this a real challenge. current study focuses on investigation identification environmental characteristics, including sediments, waters, seaweed, seven eutrophicated locations along Mediterranean coast Alexandria (Egypt). Different ecological risk assessment bioaccumulation factors were calculated order to identify probable source degree problem, addition accumulation heavy metals seaweed. characteristics waters chemically analyzed measured. genetically biochemically identified seaweed species Ulva compressa, fasciata, lactuca linzea. sediments El-Tabia location contained highest concentrations Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, because receives these elements from El-Amia drain. Abu Qir was found contain same studied water samples it located much closer harbor. Ecological indices indicated moderate high contamination for most locations. results factor analysis that are accumulators trace elements. These should be further investigated concerning ecotoxicology if they used human diet other benefits. This opens windows research future regarding sustainable management polluted