in metabolism and their high or low concentrations can be equally harmful to the
living organisms. Cu, Pb and Cd content in green algae are presented on Fig. 18.15.
The Cu data interval in Bulgarian algae is wider compared to Pb and Cd but if
mean values (μg/g) for all algae are compared, we get for Cu 5.6 Æ 0.5, Pb 3.3 Æ 0.3
and Cd 1.1 Æ 0.2. The accumulation patterns sequence is the same for all green
algae except C. coleothrix where Pb prevails.
Cu mean values are relatively constant along the whole Bulgarian coast (unlike
Fe and Mn), and the low Cu content in the environment means that there is no
contamination in the marine ecosystems with Cu. The same is true for Pb and Cd
whose mean value variations are also small. These results can be explained with the
lack of industrial pollution along the coast, except close to the big cities (ports) of
Burgas and Varna. The studied locations in this paper are outside the dwelling
places and this is done in order to obtain the characteristic background values for
the measured HM concentrations along the whole coast.
The highest Cu content is measured in E. intestinalis from Rossenetz –148 μg/g,
which is due to the known anthropogenic contamination of the copper mine in the
vicinity. The synergism between Cu and Fe is clearly demonstrated in Rossenetz as
Fe value is also high (4890 μg/g) while the Pb and Cd values are normal.
The behavior of Pb in water ecosystems is complex and its concentration in a
great number of natural waters is not higher than 1 μg/g. Pb is found in seawaters
mainly in the form of different organic compounds. Pb content in the studied Black
Sea alga species varies in a more narrow interval than Cu. C. gracilis,
C. vagabunda, E. intestinalis and B. plumosa species accumulate Pb in a rather
similar way. Pb content variations along the coast are small (like Cu) which also
means lack of contamination with Pb.
The determination of Cd content is an important task for the monitoring of HM
in marine ecosystems. Cd is poisonous for living organisms even in low concentrations, so it is a hazardous anthropogenic contaminant that should be controlled. It
can be concluded from the data in Fig. 18.3 that Cd is present in green algae in
comparatively low concentrations – from 0.2 to 3.2 μg/g dry weight. The lowest Cd
content is in the southern region Sinemoretz, but as a whole the concentration range
is narrow in all sites with no geographic dependence. Judging from the alga type,
the highest degree of Cd accumulation is found in C. coleothrix, while the lowest in
Bryopsis and U. rigida.
Data were measured for Zn and Cr content in some of the studied green algae and
the obtained mean values for Zn in Ulva, E. intestinalis and B. plumosa is 15 μg/g
(C. vagabunda – 23 μg/g) while for Cr in Ulva, C. vagabunda and C. gracilis –
1.3 μg/g is obtained (E. intestinalis – 3.1 μg/g). The Zn and Cr results for Black Sea
macroalgae confirm the lack of HM pollution (like Cu, Pb and Cd) along the
Bulgarian coast.
The correlation between accumulation levels of HM concentrations is an important factor for evaluation HM behavior in biota and the determining of these
correlations. The coefficient data for Enteromorpha and Ulva macroalgae show
negative correlations between Cd and all measured metals in the two algae species.
Pb also correlates negatively with all metal ions in Enteromorpha and only with Cu
322
A. Strezov
living organisms. Cu, Pb and Cd content in green algae are presented on Fig. 18.15.
The Cu data interval in Bulgarian algae is wider compared to Pb and Cd but if
mean values (μg/g) for all algae are compared, we get for Cu 5.6 Æ 0.5, Pb 3.3 Æ 0.3
and Cd 1.1 Æ 0.2. The accumulation patterns sequence is the same for all green
algae except C. coleothrix where Pb prevails.
Cu mean values are relatively constant along the whole Bulgarian coast (unlike
Fe and Mn), and the low Cu content in the environment means that there is no
contamination in the marine ecosystems with Cu. The same is true for Pb and Cd
whose mean value variations are also small. These results can be explained with the
lack of industrial pollution along the coast, except close to the big cities (ports) of
Burgas and Varna. The studied locations in this paper are outside the dwelling
places and this is done in order to obtain the characteristic background values for
the measured HM concentrations along the whole coast.
The highest Cu content is measured in E. intestinalis from Rossenetz –148 μg/g,
which is due to the known anthropogenic contamination of the copper mine in the
vicinity. The synergism between Cu and Fe is clearly demonstrated in Rossenetz as
Fe value is also high (4890 μg/g) while the Pb and Cd values are normal.
The behavior of Pb in water ecosystems is complex and its concentration in a
great number of natural waters is not higher than 1 μg/g. Pb is found in seawaters
mainly in the form of different organic compounds. Pb content in the studied Black
Sea alga species varies in a more narrow interval than Cu. C. gracilis,
C. vagabunda, E. intestinalis and B. plumosa species accumulate Pb in a rather
similar way. Pb content variations along the coast are small (like Cu) which also
means lack of contamination with Pb.
The determination of Cd content is an important task for the monitoring of HM
in marine ecosystems. Cd is poisonous for living organisms even in low concentrations, so it is a hazardous anthropogenic contaminant that should be controlled. It
can be concluded from the data in Fig. 18.3 that Cd is present in green algae in
comparatively low concentrations – from 0.2 to 3.2 μg/g dry weight. The lowest Cd
content is in the southern region Sinemoretz, but as a whole the concentration range
is narrow in all sites with no geographic dependence. Judging from the alga type,
the highest degree of Cd accumulation is found in C. coleothrix, while the lowest in
Bryopsis and U. rigida.
Data were measured for Zn and Cr content in some of the studied green algae and
the obtained mean values for Zn in Ulva, E. intestinalis and B. plumosa is 15 μg/g
(C. vagabunda – 23 μg/g) while for Cr in Ulva, C. vagabunda and C. gracilis –
1.3 μg/g is obtained (E. intestinalis – 3.1 μg/g). The Zn and Cr results for Black Sea
macroalgae confirm the lack of HM pollution (like Cu, Pb and Cd) along the
Bulgarian coast.
The correlation between accumulation levels of HM concentrations is an important factor for evaluation HM behavior in biota and the determining of these
correlations. The coefficient data for Enteromorpha and Ulva macroalgae show
negative correlations between Cd and all measured metals in the two algae species.
Pb also correlates negatively with all metal ions in Enteromorpha and only with Cu
322
A. Strezov