Potential of metal contamination to affect the food safety of seaweed ( Caulerpa spp.) cultured in coastal ponds in Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study evaluated metal concentrations in Caulerpa spp. cultured in ‘traditional’ coastal ponds in South Sulawesi and consumed locally as food. Although Caulerpa spp. are a rich source of supplemental dietary nutrients, like many macroalgal species they are also capable of bioaccumulating potentially toxic metals. We measured the metal concentrations of Caulerpa spp. from several locations in South Sulawesi to determine (1) whether cultivated Caulerpa spp. posed a potential risk to consumers, (2) whether Caulerpa spp. from cultivated ponds had different metal content that varied between localities and (3) whether there was any evidence for increased concentrations of heavy metals in Caulerpa spp. cultivated in ponds with known acid sulfate soils (ASS). Of the metals studied only As (0.7 mg kg−1) and Pb (0.35 mg kg−1) were recorded at concentrations approaching the national food safety (BSN) limits of Indonesia (1.0 and 0.5 mg kg−1 respectively). Locality differences were observed between samples that could be explained by the background geography of sites. There was some indication that ASS conditions could lead to elevated levels of heavy metals. Consequently, we propose that the potential acidity of pond soil is considered when cultivating Caulerpa