Profile of Inorganic Elements of Seaweed from the Brazilian Northeast Coast

The contents of 24 elements were determined in seven species of macroalgae collected in Ceara-Brazil, in the rainy and dry seasons of 2022. The samples were digested, and the analytes were quantified by ICP-OES and Hg by direct analyzer. The CRM CD-200 was analyzed for accuracy and obtained recoveries were higher than 95 %. The seaweed species have different inorganic element profiles with predominant elements being: Ca, K, Na, Mg and P. The Sargassum vulgare species stood out for its Hg and As contents (1.479 +/- 0.005 mg kg(-1) and 172 +/- 6 mg kg(-1), both in the rainy seasons). Ulva lactuca attracted attention for its high concentration of V (46.4 +/- 3.4 mg kg(-1), rainy season). In general, the elemental content levels in the macroalgae samples were higher in the rainy season. Long-term studies to comprehend the effect of seasonality on the elemental composition of seaweed must be carried out.