Effect of Radionuclides and Trace Elements on Antioxidant System of Brown Seaweeds

Ecological effects in marine living can be understood via the determination of antioxidant molecules in aquatic organisms against pollutants. This study aims to evaluate the radionuclides and trace element stress with response molecules. Cystoseira crinita and Halopteris scoparia have been chosen as study materials because of their susceptibility to pollution. The radionuclides ²¹⁰Po, ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K and trace elements Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, As, Zn and Pb levels were analysed as well as antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes in two brown algae, seasonally. Marine pollutants in terms of radionuclides and trace elements were correlated with antioxidant molecules in these species and may be used as biomarkers for assessing the radioactive stress. The ²¹⁰Po and Mn concentrations in C. crinita seem to activate catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities while ²¹⁰Po concentrations inclined the proline amount in H. scoparia. This study demonstrated the radiation stress-induced the antioxidant defence system in macroalgae, the primary producers of the marine environment.