Element concentrations in boreal,coniferous forest humus layers in relation to moss chemistry and soil factors

Concentrations of 15 elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S and Zn) in the current annual growth increments of the ectohydric feather moss, Hylocomium splendens, were compared with those in the humus layer (Of+Oh) of coniferous forests at 353 sites throughout Finland. Moss concentrations in the moss increments were considered measures of atmospheric deposition of these elements. Concentrations in both moss and humus layer samples were negatively correlated with latitude, except Mn (moss) and Cr and Ni (humus layer), indicating a direct effect of deposition. Spearman correlations between concentrations in moss and humus layer samples were significant (P<0.05) for all elements; that for Pb concentrations was the highest (r_s=0.60) while those for the other elements were ≤0.48. Using thickness and organic matter content of the humus layer, clay content of the mineral soil (5–20 cm layer) and the concentration in the moss explained between 8% (Cd) and 44% (Cr, Mg) of the variation in the concentrations in the humus layer samples. It was concluded that, for most elements, concentration in the humus layer are a poor indicator of current atmospheric deposition levels, at least in relatively unpolluted regions such as Finland.     

Metal content of some green and brown seaweeds from Antikyra Gulf (Greece)

An analysis was made of the levels of Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Na, K, Ca and Mg in three green and four brown seaweeds, abundant in the Antikyra Gulf (Viotia, Greece). After Ca and the macroelements K, Mg, Na, the higher concentrations found were of Fe and Pb, with Fe>Pb. Cadmium content was low in most species. Differences between species and taxonomic groups were also considered. Fe, Zn, Cd and Ca in the green algaDasycladus vermicularis increased from March to July and had their maxima in summer or autumn (Cd), whereas Cu, Pb and Mg showed an opposite pattern of seasonal variation with maxima in winter. Cu, Zn, Cd and K inD. vermicularis were correlated with their concentrations in the sediment and not with their dissolved levels in seawater. Iron inD. vermicularis was positively correlated with Zn and negatively with Cd.     

Evidence of century-scale environmental changes: Trace element in tree-ring from Fuling Mausoleum Shenyang,China

In order to detect the response of trees to environmental pollution in Shenyang during the last century, tree rings of two 100+ year old Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) were analyzed for nine trace element concentrations (K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Al, Pb and Cd) and compared to local environmental change. The concentrations of Cu, Zn and Al had significant (p < 0.01) increasing trends after 1940s and correlated significantly (p < 0.01), with increasing production of nonferrous metal from local industrial processing. Concentrations of nutrient element (K, Ca and Mg) showed significant (p < 0.01) increasing trend from heartwood to sapwood with declines in the last three decades. Significant correlation between climatic factors and element concentration in tree rings were also found, in which the temperature (November to May) and relative humidity in April and May showed significant positive correlation with Ca, Zn and Cu (p < 0.05) as well as Al (p < 0.01) concentrations in tree rings. April rainfall showed significant positive correlation with K and Zn (p < 0.05) as well as Al (p < 0.01) concentration in tree rings. The results suggest that tree rings from Chinese pine in Shenyang are sensitive to environmental change and have the potential to be used as a biomonitor for the environmental pollution. The results also demonstrate the feasibility of applying dendrochemical techniques to areas with limited samples.     

Concentrations of trace elements in osteoarthritic knee-joint effusions

Concentrations of the 18 elements, barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), bismuth (Bi), calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), cesium (Cs), copper (Cu), lanthanum (La), lithium (Li), magnesium (Mg), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), rubidium (Rb), antimony (Sb), tin (Sn), strontium (Sr), thallium (Tl), and zinc (Zn), were determined in the synovial fluids of osteoarthritic knee joints and in the corresponding sera of 16 patients by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Knee-joint effusions have lower elemental concentrations than their corresponding sera. For the essential elements Ca, Cu, Mg, and Zn and for the nonessential and toxic elements Ba, Be, Bi, La, and Sb, this difference was highly significant. Strong positive correlations between concentrations in effusions and sera for the essential elements Cu and Mg and for the nonessential elements Cs, Li, Rb, and Sr could be established. The grade of localized hyperperfusion of the knee region in the blood pool phase of ^99mTc HDP bone scan indicating inflammation did not correlate with any elemental concentration determined. Deceased.     

Concentrations of trace elements in sera of newborns, young infants, and adults

Concentrations of trace elements in newborns, infants, and adults may be significantly different from each other. Serum trace element reference ranges for different age groups are of value for diagnostic purposes. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was applied to the determination of the 21 trace elements Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cs, Cu, La, Li, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr, TI, and Zn in a total of 117 sera of individuals representing different age groups. After microwave-assisted acid digestion with high-purity reagents, 20 umbilical cord sera, 5 sera of fully breast-fed infants, 6 sera of formula-fed infants, 66 sera of patients suffering internal diseases, and 20 sera of healthy blood donors were analyzed for trace elements. One serum and two whole-blood reference materials were analyzed for quality control. Experimental concentrations were in good agreement with certified values. Umbilical cord serum concentrations of the essential elements Ca, Co, Cu, and Mg and of the nonessential and toxic elements Ba, Be, Li, Pb, and Sb were elevated compared to the elemental concentrations in the sera of infants and adults. Serum levels of Ba, Ca, Co, Mn, Pb, and Sb of infants were much higher and serum Cu was significantly lower than in adults. Serum Cu increased significantly with age (newborns: 353 microg/L; infants: 755 microg/L; healthy adults: 810 microg/L), whereas for other trace elements no age-dependence could be established.     

Minor and trace elements in human milk from Guatemala,Hungary, Nigeria,Philippines, Sweden,and Zaire

Concentrations of As, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Hg, I, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, V, and Zn were determined in human whole milk samples from Guatemala, Hungary, Nigeria, Philippines, Sweden, and Zaire; in most of these countries, three groups of subjects representing different socioeconomic conditions were studied. Analytical quality control was a primary consideration throughout. The analytical techniques used were atomic absorption spectrophotometry, atomic emission spectrometry with an inductively coupled plasma, colorimetry, electrochemistry, using an ion-selective electrode and neutron activation analysis. The differences between median concentrations of Ca, Cl, Mg, K, Na, and P (minor elements) were lower than 20% among the six countries. Among trace elements, concentrations observed in Filipino milk for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and V were higher than for milk samples from other countries. The remaining five countries showed a mixed picture of high and low values. In the case of at least some elements, such as, F, I, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Se, the environment appears to play a major role in determining their concentrations in human milk. The nutritional status of the mother, as reflected by her socioeconomic status, does not appear to influence significantly the breast milk concentrations of minor and trace elements. Significant differences exist between the actual daily intakes observed in this study and current dietary recommendations made by, for example, WHO and the US National Academy of Sciences. These differences are particularly large (an order of magnitude or more!) for Cr, F, Fe, Mn, and Mo; for other elements, such as, Ca, Cu, Mg, P, and Zn, they amount to at least a factor 2. In the opinion of the present authors, these findings point to the need for a possible reassessment of the dietary requirements of young infants with respect to minor and trace elements, particularly for the elements Ca, Cr, Cu, F, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, P, and Zn.     

鼎湖山异龄马尾松针叶长度序列元素分布

利用植物体元素化学分析结果来诊断环境污染对森林健康影响和监测环境污染程度已成为诸多生态学家和环境学者广为采用的方法之一。该研究选择广东肇庆鼎湖山健康马尾松(Pinus massoniana)前年生针叶和当年生针叶为研究对象, 将相同年龄针叶分为叶尖、叶中、叶基等长3段, 分析了两种针叶全S、全P、K、Mg、Na、Ca、Al、Mn、Zn、Cu、Fe、Pb、Cr、Cd和Ni15种元素及相应Ca/Al值在叶尖、叶中部、叶基部和叶鞘的分布模式。结果表明: 前年生针叶元素平均值除全S、全P、K和Cd外, 其它元素浓度都高于当年生针叶, Ca/Al值则是当年生针叶小于前年生针叶, 表明当年生针叶受Al毒大于前年生针叶; 在针叶长度序列不同部位间, 元素分布不均匀, 全S、Na、Ca、Al和Mn在两种针叶长度序列上没有显著性差异, K、Mg、Zn、Fe、Cr、Cd、Ni和Ca/Al值差异均达显著水平, 而全P、Cu、Cd和Pb仅在前年生针叶不同部位间差异显著; 针叶Al浓度和Ca/Al值都表明马尾松已经处于严重Al毒胁迫下; 两种针叶各部位Fe、Zn和Cu浓度远超出该地区马尾松元素的背景值, 暗示马尾松针叶已受到严重重金属毒害; 马尾松叶鞘Fe、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni和Cr含量显著高于针叶其它部位, 表明叶鞘能累积环境重金属, 可以作为马尾松在污染环境下遭受重金属危害指标加以利用, 是一种有广泛应用前景的生物指示物。该研究所采用的技术和方法对环境监测, 尤其是对利用生物化学方法评价环境污染对森林健康影响评价体系的完善和生物监测指标的利用具有指导意义, 可为今后评估相似环境污染地区森林健康和树木正常生长提供参考。     

滇池水-植物系统金属元素的分布特征和相关性研究

对滇池优势水生植物凤眼莲、旱生莲子草、红线草、聚草和茭草及其对应水环境中的Ｋ、Ｎａ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ、Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ、Ｚｎ、Ｃｕ、Ｐｂ、Ｃｄ进行了化学分析,初步揭示了滇池水－植物系统金属元素的分布特征和关性。结果表明,滇池水域属Ｋ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ、Ｆｅ高背景生物地球化学区,植物体内金属元素的含量,既与植物种属特性有关,又明显地受环境因素的影响,植物对营养元素的吸收不一定与环境中相应元素的浓度呈简单的线性关系,而     

Element content in leaves of birch (Betula verrucosa Ehrh.) in an air polluted area

 The content of natural (S, N, P, Ca, Mg, K, Mn, Zn, Cu) and extraneous elements (Pb, Cd, Al) in leaves of birch growing in the Krusne hory Mts. (Czech Republic), a territory affected by air pollution (SO₂), was evaluated with regard to the altitude and age of birch stands, and in relation to stand nutrition. The contents of S, Ca, Mg, Zn and Pb culminated at the highest points of the altitudinal transect (elevation 900–1000 m). In contrast, at high altitudes the content of Cd, Al and Mn decreased. The content of elements in leaves was mostly not dependent on tree age. In terms of nutrition and growth of birch, the content of Cu was insufficient, the content of Ca, Mg, N, P and K was optimum, and the content of S, Zn and primarily Mn was higher. The content of Pb and Al was at natural background levels, that of Cd higher. Received: 3 July 1997 / Accepted: 19 May 1998     

Longitudinal monitoring of selected elements in blood of healthy young children

There are limited data on essential nutrients in the whole blood of young children. As part of a longitudinal study of the impact on young children and the environment from the introduction of an organic Mn compound into unleaded gasoline in Australia, we have measured a suite of elements in whole blood. The children, aged between 6 and 31 months at recruitment, have been monitored at 6-month intervals for up to 5 years. Blood samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Pb. Mixed model analyses of 665 blood samples using backward elimination showed significant positive relationships between Ca, Mg and Zn and season, variable relationships with time, but no association with gender or traffic exposure. The elements Ca, Mg and Zn showed higher concentrations in summer compared with winter, whereas Fe and Pb showed lower concentrations in summer compared with winter. Concentrations of all elements except Fe showed significant effects over time: Ca, Cu, Mg, Pb and Mn showed decreases over time, whereas Zn showed an increase. The mixed model analyses with the individual elements as the dependent variable showed some interesting relationships and require further follow-up as some of these appear to conflict with pre-existing concepts, although the multi-element data on which these concepts are based are limited. The variance for blood Pb and blood Mn arising from the other elements was small with 0.5% in the case of blood Pb and 3.7% for blood Mn.     

Biomonitoring with the BuzzardButeo buteo in the Netherlands: Heavy metals and sources of variation

The feasibility of using Buzzards found dead as indicators of environmental contamination was tested. Liver, kidney, and tibia specimens were examined for the presence of Cd, Cu, Pb, Mn, and Fe, which were used as markers. All buzzards submitted to the Veterinary Institute in 1992 were examined for cause of death and condition. Results showed that more than half had been poisoned or shot. As the condition of the birds worsened, fat reserves were depleted before protein reserves. Concentrations of the heavy metals rose in liver and kidney as nutrient reserves fell. Since the content of heavy metal per organ was not related to body condition, content was considered a better measure for biomonitoring. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Mn, or Fe measured in buzzards were not toxic. In several places buzzards had recently ingested relatively large amounts Cd and/or Pb. Buzzards with high contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Mn were found in areas having more than average contamination. The North-South gradient in aerosol deposition and soil content of heavy metals (especially Cd & Pb) was reflected in the Buzzard. We concluded that the Buzzard is a suitable and cost-effective biomonitor, to investigate the bioavailability of ecocontaminants in large areas, to signal gross changes in food webs, and to monitor raptor persecution.     

Toxic and Essential Mineral Elements Content of Black Tea Leaves and Their Tea Infusions Consumed in Iran

The metal contents of eleven black tea samples, four cultivated in Iran and seven imported, and their tea infusions were determined. Twelve elements consisting toxic metals (Al, As, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni) and essential mineral elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ca, and Mg) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Al, Ca, Mg, and Mn ranged in black tea leaves at mg g⁻¹ levels, while Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn were at μg g⁻¹ levels. Analysis of variance showed no statistically significant differences among most elements determined in cultivated and imported black teas in Iran except for Ni and Cu. The extraction efficiency of each element into tea infusions was evaluated. The solubility of measured metals in infusion extracts varied widely and ranged from 0 to 59.3%. Among the studied elements, Cr, Pb, and Cd showed the lowest rates of solubility and Ni had the highest rates of solubility. The amount of toxic metals and essential mineral elements that one may take up through consumption of black tea infusion was estimated. The amount of realizing each element into tea infusions and acceptable daily intake, for safety consumption of black tea, was compared.     

Comparative Evaluation of Trace Metal Distribution and Correlation in Human Malignant and Benign Breast Tissues

Selected trace metals were analyzed in human malignant and nonmalignant (benign) breast tissue samples by the flame atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. In malignant tissues, dominant mean concentrations were revealed by Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Al at 927, 552, 231, 61.7, 36.5, 18.3, and 8.94 microg/g, respectively, while the mean metal levels in benign tissues were 903, 435, 183, 63.3, 24.7, 14.5, and 10.1 microg/g, respectively. Average concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, K, Ca, and Zn were noted to be significantly higher in the malignant tissues compared with the benign tissues. Significantly strong correlations (r > 0.50) in malignant tissues were observed between Mn and Co, Mn and Cd, Cd and Cr, Fe and Mn, Cd and Co, Fe and Co, Mg and Pb, Cd and Fe, Mg and Ni, Pb and Ni, Ni and Sr, and Fe and Pb, whereas, Cd and Co, Cd and Mn, Co and Mg, Co and Mn, Cu and Mn, Co and Ni, Mg and Ni, Cd and Cu, Cd and Ni, Ca and Mg, Mn and Pb, Cu and Ni, Fe and Ni, Cd and Mg, Co and Cu, Cr and Na, and Cd and Cr revealed strong and significant relationships in benign tissues at p < 0.001. Principal component analysis of the metals data yielded six principal components for malignant tissues and five principal components for benign tissues, with considerably different loadings, duly supported by cluster analysis. The study revealed a considerably different pattern of distribution and mutual correlations of trace metals in the breast tissues of benign and cancerous patients.     

Trace and mineral elements in royal jelly and homeostatic effects

Royal jelly from Apis mellifera is a highly active natural biological substance and is probably one of the most interesting raw substances in natural product chemistry. Trace elements play a key role in the biomedical activities associated with royal jelly, as these elements have a multitude of known and unknown biological functions. For this reason concentrations of 28 trace (Al, Ba, Sr, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sn, Te, Tl, W, Sb, Cr, Ni, Ti, V, Co, Mo) and mineral (P, S, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn) elements were systematically investigated in botanically and geologically defined royal jelly samples. In addition, concentrations of 14 trace elements were measured in the associated honey samples--honey being the precursor of royal jelly. Concentrations of K, Na, Mg, Ca, P, S, Cu, Fe, Zn, Al, Ba and Sr in royal jelly were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), while concentrations of Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sn, Te, Tl, W, Sb, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ti, V, Co and Mo in royal jelly were determined by double focusing magnetic sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). In the honey samples, trace and mineral element concentrations strongly depended on botanical and geological origin, and substantial variation was found. In contrast, the concentrations of trace and mineral elements were highly constant in the associated royal jelly samples. The most important results were the homeostatic adjustments of trace and mineral element concentrations in royal jelly. This effect was evidently produced in the endocrine glands of nurse bees, which are adapted for needs of bee larvae. In conclusion, this research yielded a surprising and completely new finding--that royal jelly, as a form of lactation on the insect level, shows the same homeostatic adjustment as mammalian and human breast milk.     

Element concentrations in mosses and surface waters of western Canadian mires relative to precipitation chemistry and hydrology

Concentrations of N, P, S, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Al, and AIA (acid insoluble ash) m mosses (three Sphagnum species and Tomenthypnum nitens, all hummock species) from a variety of mires, both ombrotrophic and minerotrophic, in the coastal western and central parts of Canada are considered in relation to surface water pH and concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, and SO₄^2- Distinct west-east concentration gradients were present for most elements in both mosses and water, but there were correlations between surface water and moss concentrations only for Ca and Mg
On ombrotrophic sites and sites characterized by poor fen vegetation, wet deposition is the main source of elements in the surface water On rich fen sites, additional Ca and Mg from surrounding soils change the elemental proportions We conclude that hydrochemically the limit between poor and rich fen sites is more decisive than between bog and fen The increase in Ca may give brown mosses a competitive advantage over Sphagnum
Moss concentrations of Na and Mg are the only ones decreasing inland The constancy or inland increase of moss elemental concentrations may depend on either an increasing atmospheric supply (e g Pb), differences in moss growth rates (especially N, P, and K) or site conditions related to the water regime (e g Fe and Al)     

青岛地区2010 年2044 例儿童微量元素测量结果分析

目的:了解青岛地区2010年儿童体内微量元素水平。方法:随机抽样2010年来我院健康查体的2044例儿童,分别测量末梢血Cu、Zu、Ca、Mg、Fe、Pb、Cd 7种元素水平,将结果按年龄分组进行统计分析。结果:各年龄段儿童均无Cu、Mg两种元素的缺乏和Cd元素的超标;Zn、Ca、Fe三种元素在不同年龄段儿童中均有不同程度缺乏,且含量及缺乏率的差异在不同年龄段均有统计学意义(P<0.05);Pb仅有22个超标。结论:微量元素整体水平不容乐观,并且不同年龄段儿童中的含量水平及缺乏程度差异较大,了解这种年龄差异对指导不同时期儿童的保健工作有重要意义。     

Investigation of Trace Element Content in the Seeds,Pulp, and Peel of Mashui Oranges Using Microwave Digestion and ICP-MS Analysis

Fresh Mashui orange samples were pretreated with microwave digestion using an HNO₃-H₂O₂ system. The levels of Mg, K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb in the seeds, pulp, and peel were then determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) combined with collision cell technology (CCT) and kinetic energy discrimination (KED). The standard curve coefficient of determinations of the ten tested elements were between 0.9995 and 0.9999. The instrument detection limit was between 0.112 ng/L and 3.05 ng/mL. The method detection limit was between 0.0281 and 763 ng/g. The average recovery rate was between 85.0 and 117%. The current results showed that Mashui oranges are rich in three elements, namely Mg, K, and Ca. The concentrations of K and Ca were significantly higher than that of Mg in the peel. The content of K was the highest in the seeds. Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn had the second highest concentrations, and Fe was the highest in the seeds, while Cu was the lowest in the peel. As, Cd, and Pb (hazardous elements) had the lowest concentrations of all the tested elements.     

Mineral- and trace element concentrations in human breast milk,placenta, maternal blood,and the blood of the newborn

The concentrations of the essential trace elements Cu, Fe, and Zn, and of the mineral elements Ca, K, Mg, and P during the perinatal period in human placenta and in the blood of the mother and the newborn (cord blood) were determined. Breast milk (colostrum and transitory milk) was also included to permit correlations between the different compartments. No correlations were found. The uptake by nutrition and the body-pools of the mother and their mobilization for these elements seem to be sufficiently high for an adequate supply of the fetus and the milk in the geographical region of Munich (Bavaria, FRG) under these investigations. Differences in the mineral- and trace element concentrations of colostrum and transitory milk for the elements P and Zn and to a lesser extent for Ca and Mg were observed. Additionally, breast milk samples from different geographical regions in Bavaria were investigated. Results for the heavy metals Cd, Hg, and Pb, and for the essential trace element Se are also presented for these samples, and can be seen as a reflection of the overall environmental and dietary influences during pregnancy in these geographical regions. ICP (Inductively Coupled Plasma)-emission spectrometry was used for the determination of the elements Cu, Fe, Zn, Ca, K, Mg, and P. For the additionally given elements in the milk-samples anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) (Cd, Pb), hydride atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) (Se), and cold vapor AAS (Hg) were applied.     

微波消解ICP-AES法测定糙苏不同部位中的微量元素

利用微波消解电感耦合等离子发射光谱(ICP-AES)法测定野生中药糙苏根、茎、叶、花和籽中钠、钾、钙、铁、锌、镁、锰、铜、镍、钼、铅和镉的含量,并进行了分析比较。糙苏不同用药部位的微量元素含量存在差异,其中钠、钾、钙、铁、镁在根、茎、叶、花和籽中的含量均较高,锌、锰、铜、镍、钼的含量较少,铅和镉只在根和茎中痕量存在,结果表明糙苏中含有大量人体必需的微量元素,可为进一步探讨糙苏中元素含量与其药效的相关性提供科学的理论依据。     

Use of the green alga Ulva rigida C. Agardh as an indicator species to reassess metal pollution in the Thermaikos Gulf, Greece, after 13 years

The concentrations of metals (Mn, Pb, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd,Co, Ni, Cr, Na, K, Ca, Mg) were determined in thegreen alga Ulva rigida, in the sediment andseawater of Thermaikos Gulf (Greece) during monthlysamplings in 1994–1995. This Gulf is the recipientof domestic and industrial effluents. Pb, Fe, Cu, Coand Cr concentrations in U. rigida at the studyarea were higher than those 13 years earlier andapparently came from different sources than those forZn, Cd and Ni. The relative abundance of metals inthe alga decreased in the order: Mg > Na > K >Ca > Pb > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr, Cu > Ni >Co > Cd. Only Cu concentrations in the alga fromKalochori and Cd ones from Viamyl showed significantseasonal changes. Cu and Cd concentrations ingeneral followed the same pattern of variation, withminimum values in winter-spring. This pattern isdiscussed in relation to growth dynamics and tissueage. Only Pb concentrations in the alga showed asignificant positive correlation with concentrationsin the seawater. There were both positive andnegative correlations among some metals in the alga. It is concluded that U. rigida can be used as anindicator species, especially for Pb.