Due to increasing marine pollution there is a great possibility that seaweed is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). To investigate the effect of processing on PAM removal from Porphyra tenera (laver) contaminated PAH, laver was contaminated with fluoranthene known to have a strong photoinduced toxicity, followed by washings and drying, which are usual processes for dried laver preparation. Sample at each step was collected and its toxicity was evaluated using cultured animal cells as well as analyzing PAH contents. Fluoranthene level in laver was significantly lowered by sequential washings with sea water and distilled water, but not by drying. Fluoranthene content in raw laver right after contamination was 221 ppm and decreased to 130 ppm by washings with seawater plus distilled water while its level was not lurker lowered by drying process. Cytotoxicity and photoinduced cytotoxicity in mammalian cells were significantly elevated in laver extracts containing fluoranthene. Cellular arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), one of the biomarkers for cellular accumulation of PAH, was greatly induced by laver extract contaminated with fluoranthene. These results suggest that photoinduced toxicity and AHH activity can be used to monitor contamination of seafood by PAHs. Fluoranthene accumulated in laver was efficiently removed by sequential washings with seawater and tap water for 24 hrs and 12 hrs, respectively.