A comparative study of heavy metal concentrations in red seaweeds from different coastal areas of Karachi, Arabian sea
Comparative study of heavy metals in forty species of red seaweed belonging to twenty six genera from three different coastal areas (Buleji, Paradise Point and Nathia Gali) of Karachi, Arabian Sea was carried out over the period of three years. There is high variability in metals concentration with in, seaweed species, sampling sites and collection time. Concentration of metals Mg> Fe > Mn, Zn > Cu revelas definite trend in most of the species of seaweed. This is in synonymous to the studies along the east and West Coast of India. There was great variation found in accumulation of metals at Buleji, Paradise Point and Nathia Gali. Concentrations of Mg, Ni, Zn, Cr, Pb, Co and Cd were high at Buleji as compared to Paradise Point and Nathia Gali. Accumulations of Mn and Cu were high at Paradise Point and Fe concentration was high at Nathia Gali as compared to Buleji and Paradise Point.