Evaluation and Analysis of Hazards in seaweed processing facility

This study was undertaken to investigate the physicochemical water quality parameters and bacteriological levels of seawater from seaweed aquaculture farms. In addition seawater, fresh water and laver used for a dried-laver processing product in dried-laver processing facilities were also investigate for physicochemical water quality parameters and bacteriological levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate and analyze hazards in seaweed processing facilities, specially dried-laver facilities. In this study, samples were collected from seven dried-laver processing facilities. Most probable number (MPN) and pour plate method were used to obtain bacterial levels including total coliforms, fecal coliforms and total viable cell count (TVC). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP/MS) and aerobic algar plate (NA) were applied to obtain heavy metals and airborne bacteriological levels, respectively.