Seaweed as bioindicators of organic micropollutants polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)

This study highlights the role of seaweed as important indicators of pollutants as they respond immediately to change in water chemistry and have high survival capabilities. Concentration and risk assessment of 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as well as 20 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), were examined in the seaweed from El-Mex Bay, Mediterranean Sea during spring and autumn seasons. The green alga Ulva compressa had a maximum ability to accumulate both PAHs and OCPs. In general, the content of the tested micropollutants in the collected seaweed is correlated to their species, morphology, concentration, and nature of pollutant. Naphthalene (NAP) and benzo a pyrene were the predominant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in all species with mean concentrations of 68.57 and 56.14 ng g(−1), respectively. The results of the current study showed that the contribution of the different fractions of PAHs from the total concentration was as follows: fossil-fuel derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (∑PAH(F); 49.32%) > combustion-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH(COMB); 30.83%) > carcinogenic fractions (PAH(CARC); 19.86%). A maximum PAH(CARC) (30.38%) was recorded in Ulva fasciata. For OCPs, the presence of 1,1-dichloro-2, 2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDD) (ND-27.8 ng g(−1)) rather than DDT; 1,1,1-trichloro-2, 2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane was an indication for biotransformation involving the reductive dichlorination of DDT to more recalcitrant and toxic DDD. Endrin ketone has the highest mean hazard quotient (0.376). The cancer risk values of most PAHs and OCPs were in the range from 10(−4) to 10(−3) recommending precautionary measures. The results explained that the present algal species play a vital role in the uptake of organic pollutants and act as biomarkers for micropollutants in the ecosystem. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-022-18634-z.