Abstract

Cadmium, zinc, copper, chromium, manganese, nickel and lead content was determined in water, phytobenthos and phytoplankton samples coming from the Bio Bio river (VIII Region, Chile) and from the Melado dam (VII Region, Chile). The measurements were done by atomic absorption spectroscopy using the flame and graphite furnace techniques. The results showed a good correlation between the metal content in microalgae and its surrounding water. This allows prediction of the toxic metals presence in a water body and the effects that they can have on the biota.