Trace elements, rare earth elements and inorganic arsenic in seaweeds from Giglio Island (Thyrrenian Sea) after the Costa Concordia shipwreck and removal

The occurrence of trace elements, REE and iAs was investigated in macroalgae collected from Giglio Island (Grosseto, Italy), 3 years after the Costa Concordia shipwreck recovery operations. There was a high variability of metals and REE between species, even those belonging to the same phylum. Arsenic level was found within the range of the Tuscany marine environment; the inorganic fraction was from 9% to 31%. Al, Be, Pb and Zn levels in seaweeds from Giglio Island were found to be significantly higher than in macroalgae from other islands of the Tuscany archipelago. REE were double the values found in the Tuscan islands of Elba and Capraia. We suggest that concentrations of metals and REE were influenced by the 3-year-long naval operations carried out for the Costa Concordia shipwreck rescue, and that macroalgae could be suitable bioindicators of perturbations in metal concentrations in the marine environment. Inorganic contaminants in seaweeds for Giglio Island. •In 2012, the Costa Concordia cruise shipwrecked in front of Giglio Island (Tuscany, Italy).•Metals, REEs and iAs were detected in seaweeds from Giglio Island.•Levels of Pb, Al, Zn, Be and REEs were higher than in the Tuscan Archipelago.•Costa Concordia shipwreck rescue influenced metal levels in seaweeds.•Macroalgae are suitable bioindicators of metal levels in a marine environment.