A biomonitoring study: Heavy metals in macroalgae from eastern Aegean coastal areas

► Metal levels were measured in macroalgae along the Turkish coast of Aegean Sea. ► The order of metals in macroalgae and seawater had the same trend except Pb. ► Cystoseira for Cd,Cr,Fe and Enteromorpha for Hg,Pb,Zn were the strongest accumulators. ► Ulva turned out to be the highest Cu accumulator. ► Macroalgae possesses high potential as cosmopolitan biomonitors in the Aegean Sea.