Líffræðifélag Íslands - biologia.is
Líffræðiráðstefnan 2021
Erindi/veggspjald / Talk/poster V30
Höfundar / Authors: Rebecca Sim (1,2), Karl Gunnarsson (3) and Ásta Petursdóttir (1)
Starfsvettvangur / Affiliations: 1. Matís, 2. Háskóli Íslands, 3. Hafrannsóknastofnun
Kynnir / Presenter: Rebecca Sim
Volcanic eruptions are widely known to release large amounts of heavy metals such as arsenic and lead into the surrounding environment through ash and other pyroclastic materials. These heavy metals are persistent pollutants, that carry risk of bioaccumulation and biomagnification. Acute and chronic exposure to these metals can be toxic, and has been linked to a long list of complications including kidney dysfunction, birth defects and cancer. Unfortunately, Phaeophyceae are excellent accumulators of these metals due to the polysaccharide composition of their cell wall, and their use in food supplements, fertiliser, and livestock feed additives could be of concern if they are found to contain high concentrations of these elements. The aim of this study was to determine whether nearby volcanic activity increases the concentrations of heavy metal contaminants in three brown seaweed species to alarming levels and if so, which sections of the thallus are worst affected. Samples of Laminaria digitata, Ascophyllum nodosum, and Fucus vesiculosus – all of which are commercially harvested in Iceland - were collected from a shoreline near the ongoing eruption at Fagradalsfjall, and at another location in Kjalarnes. The macroalgae thalli were sectioned and freeze-dried, before being analysed using ICP-MS. The results of this study are discussed in the contents of the poster.