The Bioremediation Potential of Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta) Causing Green Tide in Marchica Lagoon (NE Morocco, Mediterranean Sea): Biomass, Heavy Metals, and Health Risk Assessment

Abstract

Pollution by heavy metals is one of the most serious issues in the world, and the principal sources are manufacturing, fertilizers, mining, pesticides, transport, and wastewater discharge. In this study, the presence of macroelements (Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P)) and heavy metals (Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Lead (Pb), Cooper (Cu), and Manganese (Mn)) in the green tide caused by the green seaweed Ulva lactuca from Marchica lagoon (NE-Morocco, Mediterranean) was evaluated. The mean values of P and N in the algae were 1773.33 mg·kg −1 and 44.4 g·kg −1, respectively. The heavy metals have mean values following this descending sequence: Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cd. This finding has suggested that Ulva has the strongest affinity to Fe and Mn among the metals examined. Mn, Fe, and Pb recorded the highest bioconcentration factors (BCFs), which were 1687, 1656, and 1643, respectively. Regarding their contribution to the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), Fe showed a contribution of 13.58% to the RDA, while that of Mn varied between 4.42 % and 28.42%. The health risk assessment did not indicate any hazard related to the ingestion of Ulva lactuca. Therefore, this study suggests that Ulva lactuca in the Nador lagoon has the potential to bioaccumulate heavy metals and mitigate eutrophication.