Heavy metal content in (Padina sp.) from the Terengganu Coastline

Abstract

The content of cadmium, lead, chromium, copper and zinc in algal samples from five locations along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia beach was determined by Inductive Couple Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer. Algal samples of Padina sp were collected in the rocky beach area along Terengganu coastline. The content of total cadmium, lead, chromium, copper and zinc in seawater from the collection sites were also determined. In this study, the possibility of using Padina sp as a bio absorbent for the removal of heavy metals was examined. Total concentrations (µg metal/g dry weight seaweed) of metals in Padina sp ranged from 15.439 (µgig) to 53.441 (µgig) for zinc, 0.627 (µgig) to 1.291 (µgig) for cadmium, 3.472 (µgig) to 4.334 (µgig) for copper, 4.993 (µgig) to 11.837 (µgig) for lead and 6.012 (µgig) to 8.886 (µgig) for chromium. The highest heavy metals content in seaweed can be found from Station Pantai Bukit Keluang which showed the high content of zinc, chromium and copper with 53.441 (µgig), 8.886 (µgig) and 4.092 (µgig) respectively.