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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
10:20
Quantification of Heavy Metals and Other Inorganic Contaminants on the Productivity of Microalgae
Published on: July 10, 2015
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Arsenic bioaccumulation and biotransformation in macroalgae: Arsenosugar complexity and multifactor variability
Lizhao Chen1, Jiarui Zhong2, Nanling Deng2
1State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; Hainan Xisha Marine Environment National Observation and Research Station, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sansha 573199, China.
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
|April 16, 2026
Summary
Macroalgae accumulate toxic arsenic, transforming it into organic forms like arsenosugars. Understanding these arsenic biotransformation pathways is crucial for food safety and aquaculture sustainability.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Marine Biology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Arsenic (As) accumulation in macroalgae poses risks to aquatic ecosystems and human food safety.
- Existing research primarily quantifies total and inorganic arsenic, with limited understanding of bioaccumulation and biotransformation mechanisms.
- Macroalgae are increasingly consumed, heightening concerns about arsenic contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize current knowledge on arsenic accumulation, speciation, and biotransformation in macroalgae.
- To identify knowledge gaps regarding the enzymatic and genetic factors controlling arsenic biotransformation in macroalgae.
- To advance the mechanistic understanding of arsenic's environmental behavior and biological fate in macroalgae.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review and synthesis of existing studies on arsenic in macroalgae.
- Analysis of data on arsenic accumulation levels and speciation (inorganic vs. organic forms).
- Integration of findings on known and potential biotransformation pathways, including arsenosugar formation.
Main Results:
- Macroalgae demonstrate a significant capacity for accumulating inorganic arsenic from water.
- Extensive biotransformation of inorganic arsenic into organic species, predominantly arsenosugars, occurs within macroalgae.
- While microbial arsenic pathways are known, the specific genetic and enzymatic machinery for arsenosugar metabolism in macroalgae remains largely uncharacterized.
- Arsenic biotransformation is influenced by a combination of algal biological factors and environmental conditions.
Conclusions:
- Macroalgae possess sophisticated mechanisms for mitigating arsenic toxicity through biotransformation.
- Further research into the enzymatic and genetic basis of arsenosugar metabolism in macroalgae is essential.
- Enhanced understanding is critical for accurate risk assessment and sustainable macroalgae aquaculture development.
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