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Chaousis S, Leusch FD, Limpus CJ, Nouwens A, Weijs LJ, Weltmeyer A, Covaci A, van de Merwe JP. Non-targeted proteomics reveals altered immune response in geographically distinct populations of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114352. [PMID: 36210607 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
All seven species of sea turtle are facing increasing pressures from human activities that are impacting their health. Changes in circulating blood proteins of an individual, or all members of a population, can provide an early indicator of adverse health outcomes. Non-targeted measurement of all detectable proteins in a blood sample can indicate physiological changes. In the context of wildlife toxicology, this technique can provide a powerful tool for discovering biomarkers of chemical exposure and effect. This study presents a non-targeted examination of the protein abundance in sea turtle plasma obtained from three geographically distinct foraging populations of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) on the Queensland coast. Relative changes in protein expression between sites were compared, and potential markers of contaminant exposure were investigated. Blood plasma protein profiles were distinct between populations, with 85 out of the 116 identified proteins differentially expressed (p < 0.001). The most strongly dysregulated proteins were predominantly acute phase proteins, suggestive of differing immune status between the populations. The highest upregulation of known markers of immunotoxicity, such as pentraxin fusion and complement factor h, was observed in the Moreton Bay turtles. Forty-five different organohalogens were also measured in green turtle plasma samples as exposure to some organohalogens (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls) has previously been identified as a cause for immune dysregulation in marine animals. The few detected organohalogens were at very low (pg/mL) concentrations in turtles from all sites, and are unlikely to be the cause of the proteome differences observed. However, the changes in protein expression may be indicative of exposure to other chemicals or environmental stressors. The results of this study provide important information about differences in protein expression between different populations of turtles, and guide future toxicological and health studies on east-Australian green sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Chaousis
- Griffith School of Environment and Science and the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Frederic Dl Leusch
- Griffith School of Environment and Science and the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Colin J Limpus
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Amanda Nouwens
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Queensland, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Liesbeth J Weijs
- Griffith School of Environment and Science and the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | | | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Griffith School of Environment and Science and the Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD, 4222, Australia.
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2
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Wang H, Adamcakova-Dodd A, Lehmler HJ, Hornbuckle KC, Thorne PS. Toxicity Assessment of 91-Day Repeated Inhalation Exposure to an Indoor School Air Mixture of PCBs. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:1780-1790. [PMID: 34994547 PMCID: PMC9122270 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c05084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
School indoor air contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) released from older building materials and paint pigments may pose health risks to children, as well as teachers and staff, by inhalation of PCBs. The health effects of long-term inhalation exposure to PCBs are poorly understood. We conducted a comprehensive toxicity assessment of 91-day repeated inhalation exposure to a lab-generated mixture of PCBs designed to emulate indoor school air, combining transcriptomics, metabolomics, and neurobehavioral outcomes. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to school air mixture (SAM+) at a concentration of 45.5 ± 5.9 μg/m3 ∑209PCB or filtered air 4 h/day, 6 days/week for 13 weeks using nose-only exposure systems. The congener-specific PCB body burden was quantified in major tissues using GC-MS/MS. The generated SAM+ vapor recapitulated the target school air profile with a similarity coefficient, cos θ of 0.91. PCB inhalation yielded 875-9930 ng/g ∑209PCBlipid weight levels in tissues in the following ascending order: brain < liver < lung < serum < adipose tissue. We observed that PCB exposure impaired memory, induced anxiety-like behavior, significantly reduced white blood cell counts, mildly disrupted metabolomics in plasma, and influenced transcription processes in the brain with 274 upregulated and 58 downregulated genes. With relatively high exposure and tissue loading, evidence of toxicity from half the end points tested was seen in the rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Andrea Adamcakova-Dodd
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Hans-Joachim Lehmler
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Keri C. Hornbuckle
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Peter S. Thorne
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
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Muñoz CC, Hendriks AJ, Ragas AMJ, Vermeiren P. Internal and Maternal Distribution of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Sea Turtle Tissues: A Meta-Analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10012-10024. [PMID: 34218659 PMCID: PMC8382251 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We aimed to identify patterns in the internal distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and assess contributing factors using sea turtles and their offspring as a case study of a long-lived wildlife species. We systematically synthesized 40 years of data and developed a lipid database to test whether lipid-normalized POP concentrations are equal among tissues as expected under steady state for lipophilic compounds. Results supported equal partitioning among tissues with high blood flow or perfusion including the heart, kidney, muscle, and lung. Observed differences in the brain, fat, and blood plasma, however, suggest the physiological influence of the blood-brain barrier, limited perfusion, and protein content, respectively. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers partitioned comparably to legacy POPs. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, meanwhile, partitioned more into the lung, colon, and muscle compared to the liver under chronic and acute field exposure. Partitioning ratios of individual POPs among tissues were significantly related to the lipophilicity of compounds (as estimated by Kow) in half of the observed cases, and significant differences between juveniles and adults underscore physiological differences across life stages. The comprehensive tissue partitioning patterns presented here provide a quantitative basis to support comparative assessments of POP pollution derived from biomonitoring among multiple tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia C Muñoz
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - A Jan Hendriks
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ad M J Ragas
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Vermeiren
- Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Colson TLL, de Solla SR, Langlois VS. Bioaccumulation and physiological responses of the turtle Chelydra serpentina exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls during early life stages. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 263:128146. [PMID: 33297133 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite the North American production ban of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), PCBs are ubiquitous in the environment and in wildlife tissues. Chelydra serpentina serpentina (common snapping turtle) have been used as environmental indicators of PCB pollution upwards of 40 years given their high site fidelity and high trophic position. Despite their long use as indicators of PCB contamination, the effects of PCBs in reptiles remain largely unknown. In this study, we performed two experiments to assess i) bioaccumulation and ii) toxicity of PCBs to 1-month-old C. s. serpentina, to aid in interpretation of PCB burdens. Food pellets were spiked at an environmentally relevant concentration (0.45 μg/g) of the PCB mixture Aroclor 1254 to model hepatic bioaccumulation and depuration, through feeding, for 31 days and clean food for 50 days, respectively. No significant differences in PCB concentrations were observed in liver tissue over the course of the experiment, suggesting that juvenile turtles can likely metabolize low environmentally occurring concentrations of PCBs. Additionally, a dose-response experiment, performed to determine hepatic toxicity and bioaccumulation in juvenile C. s. serpentina, showed a 1.8-fold increase in hepatic expression of cyp1a when fed A1254-spiked pellets (12.7 μg/g; range 0-12.7 μg/g). This gene induction correlates with the significant increase of group 3 PCB congeners measured in the turtle liver, which are known to be metabolized by CYP1A. This study indicates that C. s. serpentina may be a good environmental indicator for PCBs, while more research is needed to assess the effects of body burdens in wild C. s. serpentina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tash-Lynn L Colson
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Shane R de Solla
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Valerie S Langlois
- School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Québec, QC, Canada.
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Walsh CJ, Cocilova C, Restivo J, Flewelling L, Milton S. Immune function in Trachemys scripta following exposure to a predominant brevetoxin congener, PbTx-3, as a model for potential health impacts for sea turtles naturally exposed to brevetoxins. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2019; 28:1085-1104. [PMID: 31559558 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02110-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Many species of marine life in southwestern Florida, including sea turtles, are impacted by blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. Sublethal exposure to toxins produced by K. brevis has been shown to impact sea turtle health. Since all sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico have protected status, a freshwater turtle, Trachemys scripta, was used as a model for immune system effects following experimental exposure to a predominant brevetoxin congener in K. brevis blooms, PbTx-3. Exposure to PbTx-3 was oral or intratracheal and health effects were assessed using a suite of immune function parameters: innate immune function (phagocytosis, plasma lysozyme activity), adaptive immune function (lymphocyte proliferation), and measures of oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity in plasma). Inflammation was also measured using plasma protein electrophoresis. In addition, differential expression of genes in peripheral blood leukocytes was determined using suppression subtractive hybridization followed by real-time PCR of specific genes. The primary immune effects of sublethal brevetoxin exposure in T. scripta following PbTx-3 administration, appear to be an increase in oxidative stress, a decrease in lysozyme activity, and modulation of immune function through lymphocyte proliferation responses. Plasma protein electrophoresis showed a decreased A:G ratio which may indicate potential inflammation. Genes coding for oxidative stress, such as thioredoxin and GST, were upregulated in exposed animals. That sublethal brevetoxin exposures impact immune function components suggests potential health implications for sea turtles naturally exposed to toxins. Knowledge of physiological stressors induced by brevetoxins may contribute to the ultimate goal of developing directed treatment strategies in exposed animals for reduced mortality resulting from red tide toxin exposure in sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine J Walsh
- Marine Immunology Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA.
| | - Courtney Cocilova
- Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Jessica Restivo
- Marine Immunology Program, Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL, 34236, USA
| | - Leanne Flewelling
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 100 8th Ave SE, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA
| | - Sarah Milton
- Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
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The Risk of Polychlorinated Biphenyls Facilitating Tumors in Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles ( Chelonia mydas). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15061243. [PMID: 29895772 PMCID: PMC6025165 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15061243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Hawaiian green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is on the list of threatened species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act in 1978 in large part due to a severe tumor-forming disease named fibropapillomatosis. Chemical pollution is a prime suspect threatening the survival of C. mydas. In this study, PCBs concentrations were determined in 43 C. mydas plasma samples archived on Tern Island. The total PCBs concentration in male C. mydas (mean 1.10 ng/mL) was two times more than that of females (mean 0.43 ng/mL). The relationship between straight carapace length and PCBs concentration in females has also been studied, which was negatively related. To figure out the possible existence of correlations between PCBs and tumor status, we measured the PCBs concentration in turtles with no tumor, moderate or severe tumor affliction. PCBs concentration of two afflicted groups was much higher than the healthy group, suggesting that PCBs may play a role in fibropapillomatosis in Hawaiian green turtle.
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Effect of atrazine on immunocompetence of red-eared slider turtle(Trachemys scripta). J Immunotoxicol 2016; 13:804-809. [DOI: 10.1080/1547691x.2016.1195463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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Ming-Ch'eng Adams CI, Baker JE, Kjellerup BV. Toxicological effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on freshwater turtles in the United States. CHEMOSPHERE 2016; 154:148-154. [PMID: 27043381 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.03.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Prediction of vertebrate health effects originating from persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has remained a challenge for decades thus making the identification of bioindicators difficult. POPs are predominantly present in soil and sediment, where they adhere to particles due to their hydrophobic characteristics. Animals inhabiting soil and sediment can be exposed to PCBs via dermal exposure while others may obtain PCBs through contaminated trophic interaction. Freshwater turtles can serve as bioindicators due to their strong site fidelity, longevity and varied diet. Previous research observed the health effects of PCBs on turtles such as decreased bone mass, changed sexual development and decreased immune responses through studying both contaminated sites along with laboratory experimentation. Higher deformity rates in juveniles, increased mortality and slower growth have also been observed. Toxicological effects of PCBs vary between species of freshwater turtles and depend on the concertation and configuration of PCB congeners. Evaluation of ecotoxicological effects of PCBs in non-endangered turtles could provide important knowledge about the health effects of endangered turtle species thus inform the design of remediation strategies. In this review, the PCB presence in freshwater turtle habitats and the ecotoxicological effects were investigated with the aim of utilizing the health status to identify areas of focus for freshwater turtle conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Isabel Ming-Ch'eng Adams
- Iowa State University, 353 Bessey Hall, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Ames, IA 50011-1020, USA
| | - Joel E Baker
- University of Washington Tacoma, The Center for Urban Waters, 1900 Commerce Street, Tacoma, WA 98402-3100, USA
| | - Birthe V Kjellerup
- University of Maryland at College Park, A. James Clark School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1147 Glenn L. Martin Hall, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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Burggren W, Dubansky B, Roberts A, Alloy M. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill as a Case Study for Interdisciplinary Cooperation within Developmental Biology, Environmental Sciences and Physiology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.4236/wjet.2015.34c002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Yu S, Halbrook RS, Sparling DW. Correlation between heavy metals and turtle abundance in ponds near the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Kentucky, USA. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2013; 65:555-566. [PMID: 23644581 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-013-9908-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Reptiles are declining globally, and environmental contamination has been suggested as a contributing factor; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between contamination and reptile populations. We performed a mark-recapture study at ponds near the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), Kentucky, to determine if heavy metals had an impact on turtle populations. We measured concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and mercury in red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans) tissues and pond sediment and determined the correlation between metal concentrations and red-eared slider density. Metal concentrations measured in the current study were low, and turtle density was not significantly correlated with metal concentrations in tissues or sediment. However, we observed a trend of decreasing turtle density in ponds that had greater metal concentrations. Sex ratio and proportion of juveniles were significantly different among ponds, but it is unclear if these differences are related to contamination associated with the PGDP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangying Yu
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, 251 Life Science II, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA.
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Camacho M, Luzardo OP, Boada LD, López Jurado LF, Medina M, Zumbado M, Orós J. Potential adverse health effects of persistent organic pollutants on sea turtles: evidences from a cross-sectional study on Cape Verde loggerhead sea turtles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 458-460:283-289. [PMID: 23665416 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2013] [Revised: 04/13/2013] [Accepted: 04/14/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The Cape Verde nesting population of loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) is the third largest population of this species in the world. For conservation purposes, it is essential to determine how these reptiles respond to different types of anthropogenic contaminants. We evaluated the presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the plasma of adult nesting loggerheads from Boa Vista Island, Cape Verde, and studied the effects of the contaminants on the health status of the turtles using hematological and biochemical parameters. All turtles had detectable levels of non-dioxin like PCBs, whereas dioxin-like congeners (DL-PCBs) were detected in only 30% of the turtles. Packed cell volume decreased with higher concentrations of PCBs, which suggests that PCB exposure could result in anemia in sea turtles. In addition, a negative association between some OCPs and white blood cells (WBC) and thrombocyte estimate was noted. The DDT-metabolite, p,p'-DDE was negatively correlated with the Na/K ratio and, additionally, a number of correlations between certain PAHs and electrolyte balances were found, which suggest that exposure to these environmental contaminants could affect the kidneys and salt glands in sea turtles. Additionally, several correlations were observed between these environmental pollutants (OCPs and PAHs) and enzyme activity (GGT, ALT, ALP and amylase) and serum protein levels, pointing to the possibility that these contaminants could induce adverse metabolic effects in sea turtles. Our results indicate that anthropogenic pollutants are present in the Cape Verde loggerhead turtle nesting population and could exert negative effects on several health parameters. Because of the importance of this loggerhead nesting population, protective regulations at national and international levels as well as international action are necessary for assuring the conservation of this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Camacho
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
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Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 22 is down-regulated in a human B lymphoblastoid cell line by PCB153 and in residents from PCBs-contaminated areas. MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2013; 752:21-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2012.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Revised: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 12/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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