Heavy Metals Concentration in Commercially available Spirulina Products

Naif Abdullah Al-Harbi*

Department of Botany and Microbiology, Addiriyah Chair for Environmental Studies, College of Science, King Saud University, B.O. Box 2455 Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT: Spirulina, the blue-green algae, has today emerged as a great nutraceutical phenomenon. Though Spirulina consumption is growing worldwide, relatively few studies have reported on the quantities of heavy metals they contain and/or their potential effects on the population's health. This study focuses analyses the concentrations of seven typical heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Cr, V, Cu and Fe) in 25 Spirulina products commercialized in worldwide for direct human consumption. Samples were ground, digested and quantified by Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The concentration ranges found, expressed in mg/kg, dry weight, were: Cr (0.003 - 0.018) followed by Cd (0.003 - 0.069), As (0.006 - 0.578), V (0.005 - 1.199), Pb (0.100 - 1.206), Cu (0.017 - 3.155) and Fe (0.336 - 54.68). The inorganic elements of the present study were significantly lower than recommended daily intake (RDI) level of heavy metal elements (g/daily) As (100) followed by Pb (300), Zn (13000), Cu (2500), Cd (40), Cr (50) and Ni (400). Based on this study the concentration of inorganic elements were not found to exceed the present regulation levels, they can be considered as safe food.

KEYWORDS: Spirulina; Cyanobacteria; Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy; heavy metals

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