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First assessment of Atlantic open ocean Sargassum spp. metal and metalloid concentrations

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Abstract

Over the last decade, increasing proliferations of Atlantic Sargassum populations have led to massive beaching with disastrous environmental consequences. This study is a preliminary assessment of open ocean Sargassum spp. element concentration to assess their potential contribution on coastal ecosystems. Sargassum spp. samples from seven sites, collected along a transect from the center of the Atlantic Ocean to near the coast of Martinique (French West Indies), were analyzed to determine their potential metal and metalloid enrichment. Mean element concentrations from the Sargassum spp. samples were ranked in the following descending order: As > Fe > Mn > Al > Zn > V > Ni > Cu > Cr > Cd > Hg. Element concentrations are relatively low compared to previous results of beached Sargassum spp. except for As that need to be carefully considered before reusing Sargassum spp.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Yves Lebreton, a sailor that is familiar with our project, that offered to collect samples for our study during his transatlantic cruise. We thank the analytical platform “Majeurs et Métaux traceS” (M&Ms) (UMR 5805 EPOC, University of Bordeaux) for performing the quantification of trace elements in the Sargassum spp. samples.

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  1. Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, EPOC, EPHE, UMR 5805, 33600, Pessac, France

    Emilie Pauline Dassié, Pierre-Yves Gourves & Magalie Baudrimont

  2. UMR7205: Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité, ISYEB, UMR 7205, Université Des Antilles, Équipe Biologie de la mangrove, UFR SEN, 97100, Pointe-à-Pitre, France

    Océanne Cipolloni & Pierre-Yves Pascal

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Contributions

EPD carried out sample preparation, analyses, and data acquisition; executed the analytical research and interpretation; and served as primary author. PYG carried out statistical analyses. OAC accomplished Sargassum species identification. MB obtained the Sargassum samples. PYP and MB proofread the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted manuscript version.

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Correspondence to Emilie Pauline Dassié.

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Dassié, E.P., Gourves, PY., Cipolloni, O. et al. First assessment of Atlantic open ocean Sargassum spp. metal and metalloid concentrations. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 17606–17616 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17047-8

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