Halogens in Seaweeds: Biological and Environmental Significance

Many marine algae are strong accumulators of halogens. Commercial iodine production started by burning seaweeds in the 19th century. The high content certain has potential pharmaceutical and nutritional applications. While metabolism brown is linked to oxidative metabolism, with iodide serving function an inorganic antioxidant protecting cell thallus surface against reactive oxygen species implications for atmospheric chemistry, rather little known about regulation homoeostasis other halogens general ecological biological role algal halogenated metabolites (except organohalogen secondary metabolites). present review covers these areas, including significance seaweed-derived context human diet physiology. Furthermore, understanding interactions between compound environment, anthropogenic impacts, effects on ozone layer global climate change, reviewed together natural products as bioindicators halogen radionuclides.