Distribution of Accumulated Arsenic in the Plant Body of Akamoku, Sargassum horneri

Abstract

Arsenic accumulation in Akamoku, Sargassum horneri, a member of the Phaeophyta Family, was determined throughout the whole plant by thermal neutron activation analysis. We collected Akamoku plants at a sea coast along Ise Bay, where Hijiki plants have also been harvested. The arsenic distribution in the plant body was not uniform along the stem as found in Hijiki plants ; however, the arsenic concentration was higher than the level in the Hijiki plants harvested at the same coast. The arsenic concentrations were discussed comparing the characteristic distributions in the two species.