Arsenic found in fresh sargassum algae in Yucatán

Researchers from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies (Cinvestav) in Mérida have discovered high concentrations of arsenic in fresh sargassum algae arriving at the Yucatán Peninsula. This finding, led by specialists Reyna Cristina Collí Dulá and Héctor Peniche Pavía, raises concerns regarding the feasibility of using the seaweed for biotechnological purposes.

The study examines both fresh and decaying samples to understand how chemical composition changes during decomposition. Because sargassum floats through ocean currents before reaching the Caribbean, it can absorb various elements and contaminants from the water. This potential for the algae to act as a carrier for a cocktail of pollutants complicates efforts to manage the massive biomass accumulations that have become a recurring environmental and economic challenge for coastal regions.