Potential adverse effects of inorganic pollutants on clinical parameters of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): Results from a nesting colony from Cape Verde, West Africa

• Published in: Marine environmental research 2013-12, Vol.92, p.15-22
• Main Authors: Camacho, M., Orós, J., Boada, L.D., Zaccaroni, A., Silvi, M., Formigaro, C., López, P., Zumbado, M., Luzardo, O.P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adverse effects; aluminum; Amphibia. Reptilia; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; arsenic; Arsenic - blood; Biological and medical sciences; blood; blood composition; Cabo Verde; cadmium; Cape Verde; Caretta caretta; chromium; copper; Elements; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Haematology; Inorganic contaminants; lead; Loggerhead sea turtle; manganese; mercury; Metals; Metals - blood; methods; monitoring; nesting; Nesting Behavior; nickel; Plasma chemistries; pollutants; sea turtles; Sea water ecosystems; selenium; Synecology; toxicity; Turtles; Turtles - blood; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Pollutants, Chemical - blood; Western Africa; zinc; Zinc - blood
• ISSN: 0141-1136; 1879-0291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.08.002

A large number of nesting loggerhead sea turtles (n = 201) were sampled to establish the blood levels of 11 elements (Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni, Cr, As, Al, Hg, and Se). Almost all of the samples showed detectable levels of these 11 elements, and Zn and Se exhibited the highest concentrations (median values as high as 6.05 and 2.28 μg/g, respectively). The median concentrations of the most toxic compounds, As, Cd, Pb, and Hg, were relatively low (0.38, 0.24, 0.06, and 0.03 μg/g, respectively). We also determined the haematological and biochemical parameters in a subsample of 50 turtles to evaluate the potential effects of these contaminants on clinical parameters and found several associations. Our study reinforces the usefulness of blood for the monitoring of the levels of contaminating elements and their adverse effects on blood parameters in sea turtles. •The background levels of 11 elements in loggerhead turtles were measured.•The potential effects of 11 elements on Caretta caretta were evaluated.•Correlations were found between the elements and clinical parameters.