Trace Metals Analysis Along the Fildes Peninsula Coastline Using Two Red Algae, Rhodymenia antarctica and Iridaea cordata, as Monitors

Two red algae, Rhodymenia antarctica and Iridaea cordata (Rhodophyta), were employed to investigate the pollution situation along Fildes Peninsula coastline, King George Island. Ten sites from east and west coastlines were investigated, and the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, As and Hg were determined. The metal pollution index (MPI) was used to evaluate the overall pollution level represented by the investigated sites and for interregional comparisons. The two algae exhibited different preference to special trace metal. R. antarctica could accumulate more Cd (0.63 mg kg−1) and Hg (0.026 mg kg−1) than I. cordata (Cd 0.34 mg kg−1, Hg 0.019 mg kg−1). I. cordata could accumulate more As (15.53 mg kg−1) than R. antarctica (10.11 mg kg−1). There was no significant difference in accumulating Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr between the two algae. R. antarctica could be used to monitor Cd and Hg. I. cordata would be more appropriate for monitoring As. MPI monitored by the two algae were from 1.02 to 2.26 (R. antarctica), and 1.03 to 1.25 (I. cordata), respectively. Pollution situation of Fildes Peninsula was becoming serious, especially of the east coastline. The objective of this research was to gather the baseline information for trace metals investigation in Antarctic.