Heavy metal enrichment in seagrasses of Andaman Islands and its implication to the health of the coastal ecosystem

Abstract

Concentration of metals (Mn, Al, Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co and Ni) in eight different seagrass species of Andaman Islands were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. The concentration of Mn was maximum in almost all the seagrasses, whereas Co recorded minimum concentration. The concentration of various metals are showed different concentration Mn (508-2224µgg^-1), Al (418.74-1064.8µgg^-1), Fe (525.6-1920.4µgg^-1), Cr (58.28-249.44µgg^-1), Cu (30.52-109.52µgg^-1), Zn (28.88-85.52µgg^-1), Pb (4.16-17.72µgg^-1), Cd (2.24-6.92µgg^-1), Ni (1.76-10.04µgg^-1) and Co (1-3.28µgg^-1). The results found that there where interspecific and intraspecific differences in the accumulation of different metals in seagrasses. However, there is no significant variation in metal concentration in seagrasses was obtained between stations. The study clearly indicates that the seagrasses can be used as a potential mean for monitoring the metal concentration in coastal environs.