Minerals and Heavy Metal Composition in Seaweeds of the Eastern Coast, Northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

This study aimed to analyze minerals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) heavy metals (Pb Cd) content of seaweeds collected from coastal waters Bangladesh using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Eight wild species in three phyla viz. Rhodophyta (Hypnea sp.), Chlorophyta (Enteromorphasp.),and Phaeophyta (Sargassumsp.,Hydroclathrusclathratus, Padinapavonica, Colpomeniasinuosa, Petalonia fascia Dictyotaciliolata)and one cultured Hypnea sp. were St. Martin’s Island Cox’s Bazar, respectively. Results showed concentrations varied species. Ca concentration was the highest (18565 mg/kg-dw) it 19 times higher than value reported (950 mg/kg-dw). In contrast, Zn Rhodophyta. is because different groups affinity absorb depend on environmental parameters for example salinity, pH light intensity, mineral accessibility sea water interactions between elements, growth metabolic factors, etc. C. sinuosa (30890 mg/kg-dw), whereas, lowest (120 P.pavonica Fe (15030 (33.46 (443.79 Mineral contents comparatively lower all relatively greater metals. However, Hypneasp. contained slightly 2 Cd (2.11 (0.98 due level anthropogenic source pollution Island. Heavy metal contamination might raise health concerns among consumers. Findings this help unleash compositions studied Bangladesh. Policy makers can formulate establish safety guidelines safe consumption seaweeds. The Dhaka University Journal Earth Environmental Sciences, Vol. 10(2), 2021, P 43-52