Distribution of metals and metalloids in dried seaweeds and health risk to population in southeastern China
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Concern about metals and metalloids, especially heavy metals in seaweeds has risen due to potential health risk. This study investigated the distribution of 10 metals and metalloids in 295 dried seaweeds (brown and red) and estimated the possible health risk via hazard index (HI). Elements in seaweeds can be sequenced in descending order by mean values: Al > Mn > As > Cu > Cr > Ni > Cd > Se > Pb > Hg. The levels of Cd, Cu, Mn and Ni in red seaweeds were significantly higher than those in brown seaweeds (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed contents of Ni-Cr (r = 0.59, P < 0.01) in seaweeds had moderate positive correlations. Seaweeds from different geographical origins had diverse element distribution. Risk assessment showed that HI at mean level was less than the threshold of 1. It indicates that for the general people there is low health risk to these elements by the intake of seaweeds. Furthermore, in terms of the confirmative toxicity of some metals, such as Cd, Pb and Hg, surveillance of metals in seaweeds should be performed continuously.
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These contaminants derive primarily from anthropogenic sources, including mining effluents, industrial discharges, and urban pollution, and quickly integrate into algae tissues before entering the broader food chain.
“These contaminants derive primarily from anthropogenic sources, including mining effluents, industrial discharges, and urban pollution, and quickly integrate into algae tissues before entering the broader food chain [221,222].”
From Navigating the potential of algal peptides: health effects, market applications, and scientific challenges (2026) · cites this paper as [221]
The Introduction (page not provided) identifies mining, industrial activity, and municipal waste as anthropogenic sources of marine metals and says seaweeds can rapidly accumulate them. It does not establish that these are the primary sources or describe movement through a broader food chain beyond human consumption of seaweeds. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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“These contaminants derive primarily from anthropogenic sources, including mining effluents, industrial discharges, and urban pollution, and quickly integrate into algae tissues before entering the broader food chain [221,222].”
- Authors
- Chen, Q., Pan, X.-D., Huang, B.-F., & Han, J.-L.
- Affiliations
- Zhejiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CN)
- Corresponding author
- Pan, Xiao-Dong
- ORCID
- Chen, Qing
- Venue
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2018-02-23
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3578-3578
- ISSN
- 2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5824826
- OpenAlex
- W2805641269
- Cited by
- 160
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 33 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 7.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Heavy Metals in Plants
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Heavy metals in environment
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Keywords
- heavy metals, metalloids, seaweed, brown algae, red seaweed, health risk assessment, hazard index, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, chromium, selenium, dietary intake, southeastern China
- MeSH terms
- China, Environmental Monitoring, Humans, Mercury, Seaweed, Soil, Soil Pollutants, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Risk Assessment, Geologic Sediments, Metals, Heavy, Metalloids
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