Comparative trace metal assessment in phytoplankton using size and density fractionation

Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico; Yee Cheng Lim; Ming-Huang Wang; Yun-Ru Ju; Chiu-Wen Chen; Cheng-Di Dong

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113475

Comparative trace metal assessment in phytoplankton using size and density fractionation

Mar Pollut Bull. 2022 Apr:177:113475. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113475. Epub 2022 Mar 18.

Authors

Frank Paolo Jay B Albarico¹, Yee Cheng Lim², Ming-Huang Wang², Yun-Ru Ju³, Chiu-Wen Chen⁴, Cheng-Di Dong⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan; Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan; College of Fisheries and Allied Sciences, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Sagay City 6122, Philippines.
² Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan.
³ Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National United University, Miaoli 36063, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan. Electronic address: cwchen@nkust.edu.tw.
⁵ Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City 81157, Taiwan. Electronic address: cddong@nkust.edu.tw.

PMID: 35314390
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113475

Abstract

Trace metal assessment in marine phytoplankton is challenging due to complex assemblages and variable amounts of abiogenic suspended particulates. Using aliquots, this study were able to compare trace metal concentrations in plankton samples subjected to size and density fractionation. Elements including Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sr, Hg, and Pb were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). Trace metals were found to be significantly higher in size fractionated than density fractionated plankton for both small (1.2-50 μm) and large (50-120 μm) fractions. Metals from abiogenic sources (61-88%) also significantly contributed to trace metals detected in 1.2-120 μm suspended particulates collected from Kaohsiung Harbor. Results suggest that size fractionation can potentially overestimate trace metals in phytoplankton. It is therefore recommended combining the two methods by first isolating different size fractions followed by density fractionation to separate phytoplankton from zooplankton, and abiogenic particulates from phytoplankton assemblages, respectively.

Keywords: Density fractionation; Kaohsiung Harbor; Phytoplankton; Plankton; Size fractionation; Trace metals.

MeSH terms

Animals
Mercury*
Metals
Phytoplankton
Trace Elements*
Zooplankton

Substances

Metals
Trace Elements
Mercury