EFFECT OF SEAWEEDS IN PHYTO-REMEDIATION

Heavy metals and organic pollutants are introduced into the aquatic ecosystems as a result of human activities involving agricultural uses, industrial discharges, domestic effluents and agricultural runoff. These contaminants such as herbicides, pesticides, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, heavy metals... etc., have negative impacts on both the stability of the natural aquatic environment (intensification of eutrophication, contamination and disappearance of certain animal and plant species...) and can cause adverse effects on human health. Recently there has been an increasing interest in using seaweeds for water quality assessment and for removal of heavy metals and organic pollutants. In this review, we will discuss the use of macroalgae as bioindicators for monitoring and protecting aquatic environments and different mechanisms used by these seaweeds for metal accumulation and detoxification.