Sepúlveda, BernardoBernardoSepúlvedaEcheverría, PatriciaPatriciaEcheverríaLarrazábal, Maria Jose JoséMaria Jose JoséLarrazábalPávez, OsvaldoOsvaldoPávezNazer Varela, Amin SalvadorAmin SalvadorNazer VarelaSepúlveda, BrunoBrunoSepúlveda2025-10-102025-10-10202507161549; 07177518https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12740/23420The environments of the Atacama Region (Chile) are influenced by mining emissions that affect the quality of soil and water. Since the emissions are carried into the sea, the brown macroalgae Macrocystis pyrifera and Lessonia trabeculata are exposed to heavy metal contamination. These macroalgae are marketed with low added value for industrial purposes; however, they are also an important source of nutrients, to diversify their use as a functional food. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of algal preparation procedures on their quality for human consumption, specifically related with the reduction of contaminants such as Cd, Hg, Pb, As, and Na. The algae were collected in Bahía Chascos, Caldera, Chile; frond and stipe in good con-dition were preserved by vacuum packaging or pasteurization (121°C) to prepare food prototypes. The concentration of Cd, Hg, Pb, As, and Na in µg/3g of food was analyzed through the procedures to compare the resulting concentration with the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI). The scalding pretreatment combined with pasteurization was effective in reducing the content of Cd, As, and Na in the prototype foods by almost 100 %, decreasing the risk in the prototype foods for human consumption and allowing a potential increase in daily consumption of around 99 %. This diversification of the use of regional algae could establish a local food identity and increase the added value of the resource. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.openAccessBROWN MACROALGAEFOOD PREPARATIONFOOD SAFETYFUNCTIONAL FOODMINING POLLUTIONTOLERABLE DAILY INTAKE (TDI)ARSENICCADMIUMLEADMERCURYSODIUMALGORITHMARTICLEATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROMETRYBIOACCUMULATIONCONTAMINATIONCONTROLLED STUDYFOOD QUALITYLESSONIA TRABECULATAMACROALGAMACROCYSTIS PYRIFERAMININGNONHUMANPASTEURIZATIONPOLLUTIONTOLERABLE DAILY INTAKEWATER QUALITYArtículo https://doi.org/10.4067/S0717-75182025000200003