Chemical form of arsenic in marine macroalgae

Chemical forms of water‐soluble and lipid soluble arsenic compounds in marine macroalgae, including edible algae, are reviewed. Major watersoluble arsenic compounds inalgae are arseniccontaining ribofuranosides (ACRs). Red and green algae contain mainly a glycerophospho derivative at the glycerol terminal while brown algae contain a sulfate or sulfonate derivatives at the glycerol terminal together with a glycerophospho derivative. Brown algae which belong to the Sargasso species contain significant amounts of inorganic arsenic in the form of arsenate. Lipid‐soluble arsenic identified in a brown algae ( Undaria pinnatifida ) was an acylated derivative of an ACR. Thirty‐eight marine algae were analyzed by HPLC/ICP/MS and their arsenic compounds are characterized. The characterization of arsenic compounds may show their role in the chemical taxonomy of algae species in addition to giving an understanding of the toxicological and geochemical implication of the element.