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Labrada-Martagón V, Islas Madrid NL, Yáñez-Estrada L, Muñoz-Tenería FA, Solé M, Zenteno-Savín T. Evidence of oxidative stress responses of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) to differential habitat conditions in the Mexican Caribbean. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 946:174151. [PMID: 38909804 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Important foraging and nesting habitats for Caribbean green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) exist within the Mesoamerican Reef System in the Mexican Caribbean. During the last 25 years, urban development and touristic activities have drastically increased in Quintana Roo, Mexico. Moreover, in the last decade, massive pelagic sargasso blooms have also afflicted this region; however, information about the biochemical responses of Caribbean green turtles to these inputs is absent. This study aimed to assess if the oxidative stress indicators in the red blood cells of green turtles are valuable biomarkers of the extent of the anthropic impact in this region. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were also measured in the plasma of free-living green turtles during 2015-2018 to characterize these habitats further. As biochemical biomarkers, the production rate of superoxide radical (O2•-), carbonylated protein content, and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) levels, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase, glutathione peroxidase were measured in erythrocytes. A 15 % occurrence of fibropapillomatosis (FP) was revealed, with tumor size being positively correlated with CAT activity in the affected individuals. A multivariate analysis embracing all oxidative stress markers discriminated green turtles between years of capture (p < 0.001), with those sampled during 2015 presenting the highest production of O2•- (p = 0.001), activities of GST (p < 0.001), levels of TBARS (p < 0.001) and carbonylated proteins (p = 0.02). These local and temporal biochemical responses coincided with the first massive Sargassum spp. bloom reported in the region. The results of this study corroborate the utility of the oxidative stress indicators as biomarkers of environmental conditions (sargasso blooms and POPs) in the green turtle as sentinel species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Labrada-Martagón
- Laboratorio Ecología de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias, UASLP, Av. Chapultepec #1570, Col. Privadas del Pedregal, C.P. 78295 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
| | - Nadia Luisa Islas Madrid
- Laboratorio de Estrés Oxidativo, Programa de Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional #195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, C.P. 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Leticia Yáñez-Estrada
- Laboratorio de Género, Salud y Ambiente, Facultad de Medicina, UASLP, Av. Venustiano Carranza #2405, Col. Loma Alta, C.P. 78210 San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
| | - Fernando Alberto Muñoz-Tenería
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, UASLP, Carretera Matehuala-SLP Km 14.5, Soledad de Graciano Sánchez, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
| | - Montserrat Solé
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Psg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Tania Zenteno-Savín
- Laboratorio de Estrés Oxidativo, Programa de Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional #195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, C.P. 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
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Dias VHV, Mattos JJ, Serafini PP, Lüchmann KH, Bainy ACD. A systematic review of the impact of chemical pollution on sea turtles: Insights from biomarkers of aquatic contamination. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 480:135813. [PMID: 39298959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Chemical anthropogenic contaminants in the marine environment pose a substantial threat to sea turtles. The current systematic review quantified the published literature on biomarkers of aquatic contamination in sea turtles. It examined the exposure and potential impacts of pollution at biochemical, molecular, and cellular levels, as indicated by these biomarkers. Eighty-seven primary peer-reviewed papers were included, most of which were published from 2013 onwards. Most studies focused on the species Chelonia mydas (n = 43 papers) and Caretta caretta (n = 36) and used blood samples for biomarker (n = 54) and chemical (n = 38) analyses. Chemical analyses were assessed alongside biomarker analyses in most studies (n = 71). Some studies indicated possible damage to the DNA, cells, oxidative balance, and reproduction of sea turtles associated with chemical contaminants as metals, emerging, and mixtures of organic pollutants. Research gaps and recommendations for future studies were addressed to help understand the toxicity of chemical pollutants in sea turtles. The purpose of this review is to contribute for supporting actions to mitigate the threats posed by pollution to these protected species, as well as to plan new studies in this research field for both conservation and biomonitoring purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Helena Vidal Dias
- Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry (LABCAI), Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP:88037000, Brazil
| | - Jacó Joaquim Mattos
- Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry (LABCAI), Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP:88037000, Brazil
| | - Patricia Pereira Serafini
- Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry (LABCAI), Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP:88037000, Brazil
| | - Karim Hahn Lüchmann
- Department of Scientific and Technological Education, Santa Catarina State University, CEP: 88035001, Brazil
| | - Afonso Celso Dias Bainy
- Laboratory of Biomarkers of Aquatic Contamination and Immunochemistry (LABCAI), Federal University of Santa Catarina, CEP:88037000, Brazil.
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de Souza Dias da Silva MF, Zanardi-Lamardo E, Valcarcel Rojas LA, de Oliveira Alves MD, Chimendes da Silva Neves V, de Araújo ME. Traces of oil in sea turtle feces. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 200:116088. [PMID: 38309176 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
In 2019, an oil spill hit the Brazilian Northeast coast causing impact to several ecosystems, including sea turtles' breeding and feeding areas. This study aimed to investigate whether sea turtles were impacted by this oil disaster, correlating the oil found inside feces with a sandy-oiled sample collected on the beach some days after the accident. The fecal samples were collected in the upper mid-littoral reef areas during three consecutive days in February 2020. The results suggested that sea turtles consumed algae contaminated by petroleum. Hydrocarbons composition of oil inside feces was similar to the sandy-oiled sample, suggesting they were the same. Lighter aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic compounds were missing, indicating both sandy-oiled and oil inside the feces had experienced significant evaporation prior to collection. Although the long-term damage is still unknown, the data are novel and relevant to support future research and alert authorities about the risks to sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matheus Felipe de Souza Dias da Silva
- Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-550, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Eliete Zanardi-Lamardo
- Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-550, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - Lino Angel Valcarcel Rojas
- Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-550, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Maria Danise de Oliveira Alves
- Faculdade Frassinetti do Recife, Av. Conde da Boa Vista, 921, Recife 50060-002, Pernambuco, Brazil; Associação de Pesquisa e Preservação de Ecossistemas Aquáticos - AQUASIS, Av. Pintor João Figueiredo - SESC - Iparana, Caucaia, 61627-250, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Elisabeth de Araújo
- Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Departamento de Oceanografia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife 50740-550, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Flores-Ramírez R, Mendoza-Rivera SP, García-Grajales J, Buenrostro-Silva A, Sanjuan-Meza EU, Berumen-Rodríguez AA, Espinosa-Reyes G. Persistent organic pollutants in the olive ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) during the nesting stage in the "La Escobilla" Sanctuary, Oaxaca, Mexico. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:10911-10919. [PMID: 38214861 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-31833-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances widely distributed in the environment by the runoff from anthropic activities and can be distributed and bioaccumulated or biomagnified in the environment, affecting the health of organisms. The sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, is a long-lived organism, with migratory habits and feeding behaviors that allow exposure to various pollutants. This work aimed to determine long-term exposure to POPs in adult olive ridley turtles (L. olivacea), sampled during the nesting season, in "La Escobilla" Sanctuary. Blood samples were collected and processed to obtain plasma. The quantification of POPs in blood was carried out with an extraction technique with a focused ultrasound probe. Twenty-seven POP analytes were determined. The concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexane, endosulfan isomers, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, total polychlorinated biphenyls, and the total sum of POPs found in plasma are higher than those reported in other studies, which reported effects such as hematological and biochemical changes in blood, changes in immune system cells and enzymatic activity related to oxidative stress. These results are important to demonstrate the chronic exposure to POPs in olive ridley turtles in marine ecosystems and to highlight the importance of assessing the associated health risks, considering that these contaminants could be transferred to the offspring and affect future generations of this reptile. It is important to carry out studies that develop conservation strategies for the olive ridley turtle. Also, it is necessary to control the emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere, as well as reduce urban, agricultural, and industrial waste in the environment and marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rogelio Flores-Ramírez
- Facultad de Medicina - Coordinación para la Inoovación y la Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACyT). Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona No. 550, CP 78210, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, San Luis Potosí, SLP, México
| | - Sagrario Paola Mendoza-Rivera
- Facultad de Medicina - Coordinación para la Inoovación y la Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACyT). Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona No. 550, CP 78210, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, San Luis Potosí, SLP, México
| | - Jesus García-Grajales
- Universidad del Mar Campus Puerto Escondido, Km. 2.5 Carretera Federal Puerto Escondido-Sola de Vega, 71980, San Pedro Mixtepec, Oaxaca, México
| | - Alejandra Buenrostro-Silva
- Universidad del Mar Campus Puerto Escondido, Km. 2.5 Carretera Federal Puerto Escondido-Sola de Vega, 71980, San Pedro Mixtepec, Oaxaca, México
| | - Eleno Uriel Sanjuan-Meza
- Facultad de Medicina - Coordinación para la Inoovación y la Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACyT). Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona No. 550, CP 78210, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, San Luis Potosí, SLP, México
| | - Alejandra Abigail Berumen-Rodríguez
- Facultad de Medicina - Coordinación para la Inoovación y la Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACyT). Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona No. 550, CP 78210, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, San Luis Potosí, SLP, México
| | - Guillermo Espinosa-Reyes
- Facultad de Medicina - Coordinación para la Inoovación y la Aplicación de la Ciencia y la Tecnología (CIACyT). Centro de Investigación Aplicada en Ambiente y Salud (CIAAS), Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Sierra Leona No. 550, CP 78210, Colonia Lomas Segunda Sección, San Luis Potosí, SLP, México.
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Wilkinson A, Ariel E, van de Merwe J, Brodie J. Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Blood and Scute Trace Element Concentrations in the Northern Great Barrier Reef. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:2375-2388. [PMID: 37477460 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Marine turtles face numerous anthropogenic threats, including that of chemical contaminant exposure. The ecotoxicological impact of toxic metals is a global issue facing Chelonia mydas in coastal sites. Local investigation of C. mydas short-term blood metal profiles is an emerging field, while little research has been conducted on scute metal loads as potential indicators of long-term exposure. The aim of the present study was to investigate and describe C. mydas blood and scute metal profiles in coastal and offshore populations of the Great Barrier Reef. This was achieved by analyzing blood and scute material sampled from local C. mydas populations in five field sites, for a suite of ecologically relevant metals. By applying principal component analysis and comparing coastal sample data with those of reference intervals derived from the control site, insight was gleaned on local metal profiles of each population. Blood metal concentrations in turtles from coastal sites were typically elevated when compared with levels recorded in the offshore control population (Howick Island Group). Scute metal profiles were similar in Cockle Bay, Upstart Bay, and Edgecumbe Bay, all of which were distinct from that of Toolakea. Some elements were reported at similar concentrations in blood and scutes, but most were higher in scute samples, indicative of temporal accumulation. Coastal C. mydas populations may be at risk of toxic effects from metals such as Co, which was consistently found to be at concentrations magnitudes above region-specific reference intervals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2375-2388. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Wilkinson
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jon Brodie
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Arienzo M, Toscanesi M, Esposito M, Iaccarino D, Di Nocera F, Canzanella S, Ferrara L, Di Natale G, Trifuoggi M. Comparative study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in salt gland and liver of loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, Cheloniidae) stranded along the Mediterranean coast, Southern Italy. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115355. [PMID: 37611477 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs, were determined in the liver and salt gland of 19 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta Linnaeus, Cheloniidae) stranded along the coasts of the south Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy, from 2019 to 2021. The 16 EPA's priority PAHs were determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The average values of ΣPAHs in liver, 139 ± 55.0, were exceptionally high and up to one hundred times those of literature and appeared even more worrying in salt gland, 320 ± 97.6 ng/g, w.w. Naphthalene was the predominant contributor to PAHs richness and accounted for 90.0% and 93.7% of ΣPAHs in the two matrices, highlighting the petrogenic source of exposure. An overall higher bioaccumulation of NAP, more than two-fold, was detected in salt gland and especially in female and adults. Data of PAHs richness highlighted a potential risk of neoplastic disease development and that anthropogenic activities may seriously impair healthy state conditions of C. caretta. populations in south Tyrrhenian Sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Arienzo
- Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Toscanesi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Mauro Esposito
- Centro di referenza Nazionale per lo Studio e Analisi delle Correlazioni tra Ambiente, Animale e Uomo, Portici, Italy; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, via Salute, 2, Portici, Italy
| | - Doriana Iaccarino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, via Salute, 2, Portici, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, via Salute, 2, Portici, Italy
| | - Silvia Canzanella
- Centro di referenza Nazionale per lo Studio e Analisi delle Correlazioni tra Ambiente, Animale e Uomo, Portici, Italy; Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, via Salute, 2, Portici, Italy
| | - Luciano Ferrara
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriella Di Natale
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Trifuoggi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 21, 80126 Naples, Italy
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Rossi S, de Farias DSD, da Costa Bomfim A, Carreira RS, Grisi-Filho JHH, Massone CG, de Lima Silva FJ, Gavilan SA. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in liver samples of green turtles Chelonia mydas stranded in the Potiguar Basin, northeastern Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 193:115264. [PMID: 37423081 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtles are affected by pollutants worldwide, and the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been detected in different types of samples and at high levels in some cases. The present study brings concentrations of 37 PAHs in liver samples of 17 green turtles Chelonia mydas stranded in northeastern Brazil [four with cutaneous tumors of fibropapillomatosis (FP), being classified as FP+]. Six PAHs were detected in 100% of the liver samples, and all alkylated PAHs were frequently quantified. High levels of phenanthrene (771.20 and 794.43 ng g-1 d.w.) and fluorene (1882.36 ng g-1 d.w.) were found in three females FP- (without FP cutaneous tumors). On the other hand, one green turtle FP+ had the higher level of naphthalene (531.70 ng g-1 d.w.), compound detected in 82.35 % of the samples. Our study brings additional baseline of organic pollutants in green turtles, improving knowledge on bioaccumulation of these compounds in sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silmara Rossi
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
| | - Daniel Solon Dias de Farias
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Aline da Costa Bomfim
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Renato S Carreira
- Laboratório de Estudos Marinhos e Ambientais (LabMAM), Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - José Henrique Hildebrand Grisi-Filho
- Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Biostatística (LEB), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Carlos G Massone
- Laboratório de Estudos Marinhos e Ambientais (LabMAM), Departamento de Química, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Flávio José de Lima Silva
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Departamento de Turismo, Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN), Natal, RN, Brazil
| | - Simone Almeida Gavilan
- Projeto Cetáceos da Costa Branca - Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (PCCB-UERN), Mossoró, RN, Brazil; Centro de Estudos e Monitoramento Ambiental (CEMAM), Areia Branca, RN, Brazil; Laboratório de Morfofisiologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Morfologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil
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Corniuk RN, Lynch JM, Arendt MD, Braun-McNeill J, Owens DW, Valverde RA, Kucklick JR, McClellan-Green PD. Using Plasma Vitellogenin in Loggerhead Sea Turtles to Assess Reproductive Maturation and Estrogen-Like Contaminant Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:1309-1325. [PMID: 36942377 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (VTG), an egg yolk precursor, is abnormally produced by male and juvenile oviparous species after exposure to estrogens. Plasma VTG in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) helped us understand their reproductive maturation and investigate it as a biomarker of contaminant exposure. The presence of VTG was screened in plasma from 404 loggerheads from the northwestern Atlantic Ocean using a freshwater turtle antibody in western blots. The concentrations of VTG were semiquantified using band intensities calibrated to results from a loggerhead antibody enzyme-linked immunoassay. The detection and concentrations of VTG were in (from highest to lowest): nesting females, in-water adult females, subadult females, smaller females, unknown sex, and males. Loggerheads from this region begin vitellogenesis at ≅77 cm straight carapace length. We classified VTG expression as abnormal in nine male or juvenile turtles. Organochlorine contaminant (OC) concentrations were measured in blood and/or fat biopsies of some turtles. One abnormal VTG female had the second highest fat polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene concentrations compared among 43 VTG-negative juveniles. The nine VTG-abnormal turtles had average blood PCB concentrations 8.5% higher, but not significantly different, than 46 VTG-negative juveniles (p = 0.453). In turtles less than 77 cm, blood PCB concentrations were significantly, but weakly, correlated with semiquantified VTG concentrations (tau = 0.1, p = 0.004). Greater blood OC concentrations were found in adult females than in males, which motivated the creation of a conceptual model of OC, VTG, and hormone concentrations across a reproductive cycle. A decision tree is also provided incorporating VTG as a sexing tool. Abnormal VTG expression cannot conclusively be linked to endocrine disruption caused by these OC concentrations. Studies should further investigate causes of abnormal VTG expression in wild sea turtles. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;00:1-18. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer M Lynch
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Waimanalo, Hawaii, USA
- Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael D Arendt
- Marine Resources Division, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | | | - David W Owens
- College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Roldán A Valverde
- Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, USA
- Sea Turtle Conservancy, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - John R Kucklick
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Guevara-Meléndez AM, Comas-Garcia M, Labrada-Martagón V. Description and quantification of micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities in erythrocytes of the sentinel green turtle (Chelonia mydas) with fluorescence microscopy. MUTATION RESEARCH/GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2023; 887:503596. [PMID: 37003648 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2023.503596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Contamination in marine ecosystems is of the most critical threats to marine turtles. The identification of useful biomarkers to detect and monitor the physiological and clinical effects of pollutants on these populations will allow early detection of alterations (e.g., mutagenic damages) that could risk their viability or favor the development of diseases, thus threatening the biodiversity of these ecosystems and human population. This study is aimed at describing and quantifying nuclear anomalies in peripheral blood erythrocytes of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from three distinct foraging areas in Mexico (Akumal, Xcalak, and Punta Herrero). We developed a novel morphological index that could be used as a biomarker to identify abnormal nuclei in peripheral blood erythrocytes. Here we describe for the first time in C. mydas, with a species-specific staining protocol, distinct nuclear abnormalities such as blebbed, lobed, notched, eight shape nuclei, and binucleated cells. These nuclear abnormalities were present in > 90 % of the subjects (n = 30). Moreover, 50 % of the organisms presented erythrocytes with micronuclei. The number of nuclear abnormalities did not correlate with size of the green turtles or differ between sites, or health status. We found a higher frequency of green turtles with nuclear abnormalities in the southern region (Punta Herrero and Xcalak) with the highest frequency of micronucleus and buds. The former could be associated to the constant exposure to chemical pollutants of oceanographic origin in the southern coast of Quintana Roo. Furthermore, the increasing anthropogenic pollution in Akumal could also explain the highest variability in the number of nuclear abnormalities presented in resident individuals. We propose that a long-term monitoring programs of green turtle populations in the Mexican Caribbean that include a micronucleus test could be a useful to determine possible mutagenic damage in these animals.
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10
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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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11
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Hoseini SM, Namroodi S, Sayadshirazi A, Zaccaroni A. Trace Elements and Contaminants Concentrations in Tissues of Caspian Seals ( Pusa caspica) along the Iranian Coast. TOXICS 2022; 11:39. [PMID: 36668765 PMCID: PMC9865950 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The Caspian seal (Pusa caspica) is an endangered species that only lives in the Caspian Sea. Little information is available on its exposure to contaminants, and no data exists for Southern sub-populations. From 2011 to 2016, tissues samples were collected from 20 Caspian seals to (i) Define the concentration of trace elements in five different matrices and the concentration of 30 pesticides in their blubber; (ii) Determine whether differences in contaminant concentrations are age- or sex-related; (iii) Evaluate if detected concentrations can represent a risk to the species. Age- and sex-related variations were detected for Zn and Hg in the blubber and Fe in the kidney by age only. Exceptionally high Hg concentrations and low levels of hepatic Zn were detected, raising some concern about the reproductive health of seals. Similarly, the DDTs levels detected were in the range of adverse reproductive effects in marine mammals. Based on these results, potentially adverse effects on the immune and endocrine systems of the Caspian seal cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that pollutant monitoring becomes an integral component of conservation strategies for the Caspian seal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyedeh Malihe Hoseini
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan 4913815739, Iran
| | - Somayeh Namroodi
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Gorgan 4913815739, Iran
| | | | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, 47042 Cesenatico, Italy
- MarLab, 06250 Mougins, France
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12
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Sole M, Bassols A, Labrada-Martagón V. Plasmatic B-esterases as potential biomarkers of exposure to marine plastics in loggerhead turtles. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113639. [PMID: 35688215 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtles are particularly vulnerable to plastic exposures, and the associated chemical additives, due to their feeding strategies. The species Caretta caretta is a proposed sentinel of plastic pollution worldwide. Thus, there is a need to find adequate biomarkers of plastic exposure through non-invasive protocols for this IUCN protected species. Plasmatic acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and carboxylesterase (CE) which participate in xenobiotic and endogenous metabolic reactions could all serve as biomarkers, as they are responsive to plasticizers and have already proved adequate for identifying organophosphorus esters exposures. Here we measured plasmatic B-esterases in wild specimens captured as accidental by-catch. Measurements were taken in each individual either at entry into the rehabilitation program or immediately before release after a recovery period. For CE measurements, 4 commercial substrates were used as potentially indicative of distinct enzyme isoforms. Increased activity was seen with the butyrate-derived substrates. Plasmatic CE activities were over one order of magnitude higher than AChE and BuChE substrates. Moreover, an in vitro protocol with the inclusion of plastic additives such as tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), bisphenol A and some of its analogues was considered a proxy of enzymatic interactions. A clear inhibition by TBBPA was found when using commercially purified AChE and recombinant CE proteins. Overall, from in vitro and in vivo evidences, CEs in plasma are sensitive and easily measurable and have been shown to significantly increase after turtles have been rehabilitated in rescue centres. Nevertheless, the inclusion of plastic (or plasticizers) characterisation would help to confirm its association with plasmatic enzyme modifications before they can be adopted as biomarkers of plastic contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sole
- Institut de Ciències del Mar, CSIC, Psg. Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - A Bassols
- Fundació per a la Conservació i Recuperació d'Animals Marins-CRAM, Psg. de la Platja 28-30, 08820, El Prat de Llobregat, Spain
| | - V Labrada-Martagón
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, UASLP, Av. Chapultepec #1570, Col. Privadas del Pedregal, CP 78295, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico
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13
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Marlatt VL, Bayen S, Castaneda-Cortès D, Delbès G, Grigorova P, Langlois VS, Martyniuk CJ, Metcalfe CD, Parent L, Rwigemera A, Thomson P, Van Der Kraak G. Impacts of endocrine disrupting chemicals on reproduction in wildlife and humans. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112584. [PMID: 34951986 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The main objective of this review was to summarize the current knowledge of the impacts of EDCs on reproductive success in wildlife and humans. The examples selected often include a retrospective assessment of the knowledge of reproductive impacts over time to discern how the effects of EDCs have changed over the last several decades. Collectively, the evidence summarized here within reinforce the concept that reproduction in wildlife and humans is negatively impacted by anthropogenic chemicals, with several altering endocrine system function. These observations of chemicals interfering with different aspects of the reproductive endocrine axis are particularly pronounced for aquatic species and are often corroborated by laboratory-based experiments (i.e. fish, amphibians, birds). Noteworthy, many of these same indicators are also observed in epidemiological studies in mammalian wildlife and humans. Given the vast array of reproductive strategies used by animals, it is perhaps not surprising that no single disrupted target is predictive of reproductive effects. Nevertheless, there are some general features of the endocrine control of reproduction, and in particular, the critical role that steroid hormones play in these processes that confer a high degree of susceptibility to environmental chemicals. New research is needed on the implications of chemical exposures during development and the potential for long-term reproductive effects. Future emphasis on field-based observations that can form the basis of more deliberate, extensive, and long-term population level studies to monitor contaminant effects, including adverse effects on the endocrine system, are key to addressing these knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- V L Marlatt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - S Bayen
- Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - D Castaneda-Cortès
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, QC, Canada
| | - G Delbès
- Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, QC, Canada
| | - P Grigorova
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TELUQ, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - V S Langlois
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, QC, Canada
| | - C J Martyniuk
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - C D Metcalfe
- School of Environment, Trent University, Trent, Canada
| | - L Parent
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TELUQ, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - A Rwigemera
- Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, QC, Canada
| | - P Thomson
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Laval, QC, Canada
| | - G Van Der Kraak
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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14
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Bianchi L, Casini S, Vantaggiato L, Di Noi A, Carleo A, Shaba E, Armini A, Bellucci F, Furii G, Bini L, Caliani I. A Novel Ex Vivo Approach Based on Proteomics and Biomarkers to Evaluate the Effects of Chrysene, MEHP, and PBDE-47 on Loggerhead Sea Turtles ( Caretta caretta). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074369. [PMID: 35410049 PMCID: PMC8998652 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The principal aim of the present study was to develop and apply novel ex vivo tests as an alternative to cell cultures able to evaluate the possible effects of emerging and legacy contaminants in Caretta caretta. To this end, we performed ex vivo experiments on non-invasively collected whole-blood and skin-biopsy slices treated with chrysene, MEHP, or PBDE-47. Blood samples were tested by oxidative stress (TAS), immune system (respiratory burst, lysozyme, and complement system), and genotoxicity (ENA assay) biomarkers, and genotoxic and immune system effects were observed. Skin slices were analyzed by applying a 2D-PAGE/MS proteomic approach, and specific contaminant signatures were delineated on the skin proteomic profile. These reflect biochemical effects induced by each treatment and allowed to identify glutathione S-transferase P, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase A, mimecan, and protein S100-A6 as potential biomarkers of the health-threatening impact the texted toxicants have on C. caretta. Obtained results confirm the suitability of the ex vivo system and indicate the potential risk the loggerhead sea turtle is undergoing in the natural environment. In conclusion, this work proved the relevance that the applied ex vivo models may have in testing the toxicity of other compounds and mixtures and in biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bianchi
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.B.); (L.V.); (E.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Silvia Casini
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; (F.B.); (I.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Lorenza Vantaggiato
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.B.); (L.V.); (E.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Agata Di Noi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P. Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Alfonso Carleo
- Department of Pulmonology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Enxhi Shaba
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.B.); (L.V.); (E.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Alessandro Armini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Francesco Bellucci
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; (F.B.); (I.C.)
| | - Giovanni Furii
- Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine Legambiente, Molo di Ponente, 71043 Manfredonia, Italy;
| | - Luca Bini
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via A. Moro, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (L.B.); (L.V.); (E.S.); (L.B.)
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli, 4, 53100 Siena, Italy; (F.B.); (I.C.)
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15
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Thompson LJ, Krüger SC, Coverdale BM, Shaffer LJ, Ottinger MA, Davies JP, Daboné C, Kibuule M, Cherkaoui SI, Garbett RA, Phipps WL, Buechley ER, Godino Ruiz A, Lecoq M, Carneiro C, Harrell RM, Gore ML, Bowerman WW. Assessing African Vultures as Biomonitors and Umbrella Species. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.729025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
African vulture populations are rapidly declining, yet funding and other resources available for their conservation are limited. Improving our understanding of which African vulture species could best serve as an umbrella species for the entire suite of African vultures could help conservationists save time, money, and resources by focusing their efforts on a single vulture species. Furthermore, improving our understanding of the suitability of African vultures as biomonitors for detecting environmental toxins could help conservation authorities to detect changes in ecosystem health. We used a systematic approach based on criteria selected a priori to objectively evaluate the potential of each of the 10 resident African vulture species as (i) an umbrella species for all of the African vulture species, and (ii) an avian biomonitor. For each criterion, we scored the respective African vulture species and summed the scores to determine which species was best suited as an umbrella species and as an avian biomonitor. Our results showed that, overall, certain aspects of vulture ecology (large population sizes, large body sizes, long lifespans, and their ability to be monitored over numerous seasons) support their suitability as biomonitors, while other ecological traits, including their diets and the public's perceptions of vultures, could diminish their suitability. The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) was the best fit of the 10 vulture species in our assessment as both an avian biomonitor and an umbrella species for all African vulture species. Meanwhile, significant knowledge gaps for other species inhibit their utility as biomonitors. Due to their large home-range sizes, African vultures may only be useful as biomonitors at a regional scale. However, there could be value in using the White-backed Vulture as an umbrella species, as an aid to conserve the entire suite of African vulture species.
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16
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Finlayson KA, van de Merwe JP. Differences in marine megafauna in vitro sensitivity highlights the need for species-specific chemical risk assessments. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 239:105939. [PMID: 34455206 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Sea turtles, dolphins and dugongs can be exposed to large mixtures of contaminants due to the proximity of foraging locations to anthropogenic inputs. Differences in accumulation and effect result in differences of chemical risk to these species. However, little is known about the effect of contaminants in marine wildlife. Cell-based, or in vitro, exposure experiments offer an ethical alternative to investigate the effect of contaminants in wildlife. Data from in vitro studies can then be placed in an environmental context, by using screening risk assessments, comparing effect data with accumulation data from the literature, to identify risk to populations of marine wildlife. Cytotoxicity of Cr6+, Cd2+, Hg2+, 4,4'-DDE, and PFNA were investigated in primary skin fibroblasts of green turtles, loggerhead turtles, hawksbill turtles, dugongs, Burrunan dolphins, and common bottlenose dolphins. The general order of toxicity for all species was Hg2+> Cr6+ > Cd2+> 4,4'-DDE > PFNA, and significant differences in cytotoxicity were found between species for Cr6+, Cd2+ and PFNA. For Cd2+, in particular, cells from turtle species were less sensitive than mammalian species, and dugong cells were by far the most sensitive. The results from the cytotoxicity assay were then used in combination with published data on tissue contaminant concentrations to calculate risk quotients for identifying populations of each species most at risk from these chemicals. Cr, Cd and Hg were identified as posing risk in all six species. Dugongs were particularly at risk from Cd accumulation and dolphin species were particularly at risk from Hg accumulation. These results demonstrate the importance of using species-specific effect and accumulation data for developing chemical risk assessments and can be used to inform managers of priority contaminants, species, or populations. Development of additional in vitro endpoints, and improving links between in vitro and in vivo effects, would further improve this approach to understanding chemical risk in marine megafauna.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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17
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EVALUATION OF IMMUNE FUNCTION IN TWO POPULATIONS OF GREEN SEA TURTLES (CHELONIA MYDAS) IN A DEGRADED VERSUS A NONDEGRADED HABITAT. J Wildl Dis 2021; 57:761-772. [PMID: 34460917 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-20-00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
There is a strong correlation between degraded marine habitats and the prevalence of diseases such as green turtle fibropapillomatosis (GTFP) in coastal populations. In GTFP, small to large tumors grow on the turtle's soft tissues and shell, while internal nodules may also occur. The disease primarily affects juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) that reside in nearshore waters. As a link has been shown between environmental pollution and immune suppression in a variety of animals, the objective of our research was to compare innate and adaptive immune responsiveness in green sea turtles from a severely degraded and a more pristine habitat, which differ greatly in rates of GTFP. We quantified phagocytosis by flow cytometry and performed in vitro stimulation analysis to measure activity of both the innate and adaptive immune systems in wild-caught Florida green turtles. Sea turtles from the degraded environment, both with and without visible cutaneous tumors, exhibited significantly reduced phagocytosis and stimulation indices than did those from the less polluted environment. Our results suggest that environmental factors may contribute to the development of GTFP and thus can impact the health of sea turtle populations.
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18
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Savoca D, Arculeo M, Vecchioni L, Cambera I, Visconti G, Melfi R, Arizza V, Palumbo Piccionello A, Buscemi S, Pace A. Can phthalates move into the eggs of the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta? The case of the nests on the Linosa Island in the Mediterranean Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 168:112395. [PMID: 33991990 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
During the monitoring of Caretta caretta nests on the island of Linosa, 30 unhatched eggs from four nests were collected to study the presence of phthalates in their three components (shell, yolk, and albumen). Four phthalates, namely diethyl (DEP), dibutyl (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), and dioctyl (DOTP) phthalic acid esters (PAE), which are widely used as additives in plastics, were detected in all egg components. The most frequently found phthalate was DBP, followed by DEHP in eggshell and yolk. Dimethyl- (DMP) and butylbenzyl-phthalate (BBP) were below the limits of detection for all samples. The high total phthalate recorded in the yolk suggests that contamination could arise by vitellogenesis. PERMANOVA analysis (p = 0.01) confirmed significant differences in the PAEs contamination profiles in the eggs from the four nests. This study confirms the negative impact of plastic related compounds posing questions about the potential adverse effects on organisms and their conservation status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Savoca
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Arculeo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Luca Vecchioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Irene Cambera
- Marine Protected Area 'Isole Pelagie', Via Cameroni, Lampedusa AG 92031, Italy
| | - Giulia Visconti
- Marine Protected Area 'Isole Pelagie', Via Cameroni, Lampedusa AG 92031, Italy
| | - Raffaella Melfi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Arizza
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Palumbo Piccionello
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Silvestre Buscemi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
| | - Andrea Pace
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche (STEBICEF), Università degli Studi di Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy.
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19
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Orós J, Camacho M, Calabuig P, Rial-Berriel C, Montesdeoca N, Déniz S, Luzardo OP. Postmortem investigations on leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) stranded in the Canary Islands (Spain) (1998-2017): Evidence of anthropogenic impacts. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 167:112340. [PMID: 33866202 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Opportunities for postmortem studies on leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are infrequent due to their predominantly pelagic life history. In this study, the pathological findings and causes of mortality of 13 leatherback turtles stranded in the Canary Islands, Spain, from 1998 to 2017, are described. In addition, concentrations of Se, As, Cd, Pb, Hg, 15 rare earth elements (REE) and other 4 minor elements (ME), 41 persistent organic pollutants, and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in hepatic samples from 5 leatherbacks were determined. 84.62% of the turtles died possibly due to anthropogenic causes (entanglement/fishing interaction - 46.15%; boat strike - 23.07%; plastic ingestion - 15.38%). Although Se, As, and Cd were found at higher hepatic concentrations than those reported for leatherbacks from other locations, no acute lesions were detected. This is the first report of exposure to REE-ME in sea turtles. Organic contaminant hepatic concentrations were generally low or undetectable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Orós
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
| | - María Camacho
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, P. O. Box 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Pascual Calabuig
- Tafira Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Tafira Baja, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Cristian Rial-Berriel
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, P. O. Box 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Natalia Montesdeoca
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Soraya Déniz
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35413 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Octavio P Luzardo
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, P. O. Box 550, 35080 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Center in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
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20
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Filippos LS, Taniguchi S, Baldassin P, Pires T, Montone RC. Persistent organic pollutants in plasma and stable isotopes in red blood cells of Caretta caretta, Chelonia mydas and Lepidochelys olivacea sea turtles that nest in Brazil. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 167:112283. [PMID: 33799149 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Studies of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), in sea turtles are reported, but there are still spatial data gaps worldwide. POP contamination of live female blood plasma from Caretta caretta (n = 28), Chelonia mydas (n = 31) and Lepidochelys olivacea (n = 19), which nest in Brazil and feed along the South Atlantic Ocean, was investigated. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes from red blood cells (RBC) were also evaluated to obtain information about trophic ecology. C. caretta had the highest POP concentrations, followed by L. olivacea and C. mydas. PCBs predominated in all species, and the major OCPs were the DDTs (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and derivatives) and Lindane. POPs and stable isotopes revealed intra- and interspecific variations, which reflect the high plasticity in the use of habitat and food resources, making individuals within the same population susceptible to different exposures to pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana S Filippos
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Laboratório de Química Orgânica Marinha, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, São Paulo, SP 05508-120, Brazil.
| | - Satie Taniguchi
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Laboratório de Química Orgânica Marinha, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, São Paulo, SP 05508-120, Brazil
| | - Paula Baldassin
- Instituto BW, Professora Suely Brasil Flores, 88, CEP 28.970-000, Praia Seca, Araruama, RJ, Brazil
| | - Thaís Pires
- Fundação Projeto Tamar, Rua Rubens Guelli 134/307, Itaigara, Salvador, CEP: 41815-135, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Rosalinda C Montone
- Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico, Laboratório de Química Orgânica Marinha, Praça do Oceanográfico 191, São Paulo, SP 05508-120, Brazil
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21
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Outcomes of 4819 cases of marine animals presented to a wildlife rehabilitation center in New Jersey, USA (1976-2016). Sci Rep 2021; 11:2182. [PMID: 33500477 PMCID: PMC7838321 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81634-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding marine animal stranding patterns can aid rehabilitation efforts and evaluations of ecosystem health. The goal of this retrospective study was to identify factors associated with outcome of marine animals presented to a rehabilitation facility in Brigantine, New Jersey, USA. Records of 4819 phocids, cetaceans, and sea turtles were reviewed. Taxa, age, sex, season, and outcome (natural death, euthanasia, transfer to another facility, and successful release) were recorded for each case. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify predictors associated with release, and a multivariate logistic regression model was developed to evaluate whether the association between taxa and chance of release persisted after adjustment for the other variables. Phocids were most likely to strand during winter. Phocids and sea turtles that stranded alive were more likely to be released than to die under care or be euthanized. Taxa, age, and season were all significantly associated with the probability of release. These results provide a reference for phocid, cetacean, and sea turtle stranding and rehabilitation in part of the mid-Atlantic region. Critical evaluation of wildlife rehabilitation is indicated to audit the success of efforts and to assess threats to free-ranging populations.
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22
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Chaousis S, Leusch FDL, Nouwens A, Melvin SD, van de Merwe JP. Changes in global protein expression in sea turtle cells exposed to common contaminants indicates new biomarkers of chemical exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 751:141680. [PMID: 32890801 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Non-targeted protein expression at the cellular level can provide insights into mechanistic effects of contaminants in wildlife, and hence new and potentially more accurate biomarkers of exposure and effect. However, this technique has been relatively unexplored in the realm of in vitro biomarker discovery in threatened wildlife, despite the vulnerability of this group of animals to adverse sublethal effects of contaminant exposure. Here we examined the usefulness of non-targeted protein expression for biomarker discovery in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) by investigating differences in the response of primary cells from five different tissue types that were exposed to three contaminants known to accumulate in this species. Cells derived from C. mydas skin, liver, kidney, ovary and small intestine were exposed to 100 μg/L of either polychlorinated biphenyl 153 (PCB153), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) or phenanthrene for 24 h. The global protein expression was then quantitatively evaluated using sequential window acquisition of all theoretical mass spectra (SWATH-MS). Comparison of the global protein profiles revealed that, while a majority of proteins were mutually expressed in controls of all tissue types (~90%), the response to exposure in terms of protein expression strength was significantly different between tissue types. Furthermore, a comparison to known markers of chemical exposure in sea turtles from the literature indicated that in vitro response can reflect known in vivo responses. In particular, markers such as heat shock protein (HSP) 60, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and superoxide dismutases (SODs), cytochrome P450 and catalase were dysregulated in response to exposure. Furthermore, potential new markers of exposure were discovered such as annexin, an important protein in cell signalling processes. While this methodology proved promising further studies are required to confirm the accuracy of in vitro protein expression as a tool for biomarker discovery in wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Chaousis
- Griffith School of Science and Environment, Building 51, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia; The Australian Rivers Institute, Building 51, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia.
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Griffith School of Science and Environment, Building 51, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia; The Australian Rivers Institute, Building 51, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Amanda Nouwens
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Building 76, The University of Queensland, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Steven D Melvin
- Griffith School of Science and Environment, Building 51, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia; The Australian Rivers Institute, Building 51, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Griffith School of Science and Environment, Building 51, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia; The Australian Rivers Institute, Building 51, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, QLD 4222, Australia
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23
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Nava Montes AD, Espinosa Reyes G, Flores Ramírez R, Ramírez Romero P. Persistent organic pollutants in Kemp's Ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys kempii in Playa Rancho Nuevo Sanctuary, Tamaulipas, Mexico. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 739:140176. [PMID: 32758958 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POP) are toxic substances for wildlife and people. The Kemp's Ridley sea turtle Lepidochelys kempii is an endangered species with limited distribution in the Gulf of Mexico (GM), a marine ecosystem that has been perturbed by a variety of anthropogenic activities. In this work, the concentrations of ten organochlorine pesticides (OP), eight polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and atrazine were determined in the plasma of Kemp's Ridley sea turtles that nest in Playa Rancho Nuevo Sanctuary, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Seventy-nine blood samples were collected from female turtles during the 2015-2016 nesting season. Samples were extracted with a focalized ultrasonic sound technique and analyzed through Gas Chromatography coupled to a Mass Spectrometer. POP with the highest percentage of detection were atrazine > PCB 52 > PCB 153 > DDE > alpha endosulfan > DDD > alpha HCH > DDT. There is no linear correlation between the detected POP levels in the Kemp's Ridley sea turtle plasma and its curve carapace length (CCL). When comparing 2015 and 2016 POP concentrations, there were statistically significant differences in atrazine (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.069), PCB 52 (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.0051) and ∑POP (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.0001) and, no statistically significant differences in alpha endosulfan (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.0294), DDE (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.0315) and PCB 153 (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.0036). The reported POP values of this work are one of the few registered for Kemp's Ridley sea turtle in the GM and the first for atrazine levels. These levels were higher than those reported for other sea turtle species from America, Africa, and Europe, which demonstrates a deteriorated health status of the GM marine ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alma Delia Nava Montes
- Environment and Energy Postgraduate Program, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Iztapalapa, Mexico City 09340, Mexico.
| | - Guillermo Espinosa Reyes
- Center for Applied Research in Environmental Health, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi 78210, Mexico
| | - Rogelio Flores Ramírez
- Center for Applied Research in Environmental Health, Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi 78210, Mexico
| | - Patricia Ramírez Romero
- Hydrobiology Department, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Iztapalapa, Mexico City 09340, Mexico
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24
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Candan O, Candan ED. Bacterial diversity of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nest environment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 720:137717. [PMID: 32325608 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The green turtle is an endangered species that is highly sensitive to environmental pollution that can adversely affect the healthy development of eggs. Moreover, the presence of some bacteria in nests can be regarded as an indicator of the pollution level in nesting areas. In our study, nest sand and egg contents were collected from Sugözü Beaches (Turkey), in the Mediterranean. Phenotypic and genotypic identification of bacteria were carried out by using conventional phenotypic methods, 16S rRNA gene sequencing respectively. The extended-spectrum beta-lactamase presence and carbapenem resistance of bacteria isolated from egg contents were determined. This is the first report of carbapenem resistance in the eggs. All strains were evaluated in three different categories including growth promoters in agriculture and aquaculture, pathogens that are found in human and animal, and biomonitoring aquatic pollution. According to our analysis, 67 bacterial species were identified from samples. This study is the first record of Alcaligenes, Zobellella, Lysinibacillus, Sphingobacterium, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, Alcanivorax, Ochrobactrum, Microbacterium, Rhodococcus, and Stenotrophomonas isolated from sea turtles. Pathogens detected in the bacterial flora can threaten both sea turtles and field workers. These data can contribute to the development of new conservation strategies on the treatment of sea turtles, nest protection, and pollution detection on nesting beaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onur Candan
- Ordu University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, 52200 Ordu, Turkey.
| | - Esra Deniz Candan
- Giresun University, Vocational School of Health Services, Department of Medical Services and Techniques, 28100 Giresun, Turkey
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25
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Gómez-Ramírez P, Espín S, Navas I, Martínez-López E, Jiménez P, María-Mojica P, Peñalver J, García-Fernández AJ. Mercury and Organochlorine Pesticides in Tissues of Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) Stranded Along the Southwestern Mediterranean Coastline (Andalusia, Spain). BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 104:559-567. [PMID: 32185428 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-02822-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Nineteen loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the southwestern Mediterranean coastline (Andalusia) were used in this study. A total of 68 samples of fat (n = 18), liver (n = 15), kidney (n = 13), pectoral muscle (n = 19), and brain (n = 3) were analysed for total mercury (Hg) and organochlorine pesticides [OC: ∑Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (∑DDT), ∑Hexachlorocyclohexane (∑HCH), ∑Heptachlor, ∑Drins and ∑Endosulfan]. These loggerhead sea turtles showed tissue Hg and OC concentrations similar to or lower than those reported in other studies. Few growth-related variations in Hg or OC levels in relation to straight carapace length were found, probably because the specimens were mostly juveniles. This study will help to fill the gap on spatio-temporal exposure data and ascertain the real world-wide picture of the contamination levels in loggerhead sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Gómez-Ramírez
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Research Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Espín
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Research Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Isabel Navas
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Research Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Emma Martínez-López
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Research Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro Jiménez
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Research Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Pedro María-Mojica
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Research Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - José Peñalver
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Research Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Antonio J García-Fernández
- Toxicology and Risk Assessment Research Group, IMIB-Arrixaca, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
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26
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Labrada-Martagón V, Teneriá FAM, Zenteno-Savín T. Standardized Micronucleus Assay for Peripheral Blood from Sea Turtles. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1373.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Labrada-Martagón
- Laboratorio Ecología de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias, UASLP, Av. Chapultepec #1570, Col. Privadas del Pedregal, CP 78295, San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México [; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8853-5541]
| | - Fernando Alberto Muñoz Teneriá
- Laboratorio de Inmunología, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, UASLP, Carretera Matehuala-SLP Km 14.5, Soledad de Graciano Sánchez, San Luis Potosí, México [; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2338-3804]
| | - Tania Zenteno-Savín
- Laboratorio de Estrés Oxidativo, Programa de Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional #195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, C.P. 23096, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Méxic
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27
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Salvarani PI, Morgado F, Vieira LR, Osten JRV. Organochlorines Contaminants in Eggs of Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) from Mexico coast. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 76:425-434. [PMID: 30600338 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-018-00589-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The investigation of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) levels in sea turtles is an important issue in conservation research, due to the harmful effects of these chemicals. In the present study, OCPs concentrations were determined in the eggs of two sea turtle species (Eretmochelys imbricata and Chelonia mydas) collected from the Punta Xen and Isla Aguada (Mexican coast) in 2014 and 2015. Concentrations of 20 OCPs were analysed, including isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane, aldrin, chlordanes, endosulfans, methoxychlor, DDTs, and heptachlor. From the group of contaminants considered (analysed as families), the results revealed higher concentrations of ΣHCH and ΣDienes on both selected species. We analysed the relationship between turtle size and the OCPs concentrations; no correlation was found between the size of the female and concentrations in the eggs. In addition, principal component analysis indicated pattern differences between species and years, in good agreement with concentrations differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia I Salvarani
- Department of Biology and The Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Fernando Morgado
- Department of Biology and The Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luis R Vieira
- CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Group of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health (ECOTOX), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 2250-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
- ICBAS - Institute of Biomedical Sciences of Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Department of Populations Study, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Jaime Rendón-von Osten
- Instituto Epomex, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Av. Augustin de Melgar y Juan de la Barrera s/n, 24039, Campeche, Mexico
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28
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Cocci P, Mosconi G, Palermo FA. Gene expression profiles of putative biomarkers in juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 246:99-106. [PMID: 30529946 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
There is evidence that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are consistently the predominant organic contaminants in concentration found in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from the North and Central Adriatic Sea. Hence this study investigates the PAH toxicity to loggerheads by using a particular set of genes [i.e. CYP1B, CAT, GPX, GSTT1, SOD3, DNMT1, Epoxide hydrolase 1 (EPHX1), Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), Lamin-A/C isoform 3 (LMNA), Talin 1 (TLN1), Annexin A1 (ANXA1)] whose altered expression is potentially dependent on and specific for the PAH-related mechanism of action. Twenty healthy juvenile loggerheads were thus divided into high and low exposure groups (mean of ΣPAHs: 80.34 ng mL-1 vs. 8.84 ng mL-1, P < 0.0001) according to the median split of ΣPAHs. Interestingly, we found that the whole blood mRNA levels of each gene biomarker tested were significantly increased in high PAH-exposed turtles thus proving to be useful for the biological monitoring of PAH toxicity and hematotoxicity in sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cocci
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Gilberto Mosconi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032, Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Francesco Alessandro Palermo
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032, Camerino, MC, Italy.
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29
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Vijayasarathy S, Baduel C, Hof C, Bell I, Del Mar Gómez Ramos M, Ramos MJG, Kock M, Gaus C. Multi-residue screening of non-polar hazardous chemicals in green turtle blood from different foraging regions of the Great Barrier Reef. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 652:862-868. [PMID: 30380492 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Green turtles spend a large part of their lifecycle foraging in nearshore seagrass habitats, which are often in close proximity to sources of anthropogenic contaminants. As most biomonitoring studies focus on a limited number of targeted chemical groups, this study was designed to screen for a wider range of hazardous chemicals that may not have been considered in prior studies. Whole blood of sub-adult green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were sampled from three different locations, a remote, offshore 'control' site; and two coastal 'case' sites influenced by urban and agricultural activities on the Great Barrier Reef in North Queensland, Australia. In order to screen blood samples for chemicals across a wide range of KOW's, a modified QuEChER's extraction method was used. The samples were analysed using a multi-residue gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry system (GC-MS/MS method that allowed simultaneous quantification of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated diphenyl ethers (PBDES), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). While PBDEs, PCBs and OCPS were below the limits of quantification, PAHs were detected in all turtle blood samples. However, PAH levels were relatively low (maximum ΣPAH = 13 ng/mL ww) and comparable to or less than those reported from other green turtles globally. The present study provides the first baseline PAH levels in blood samples from green turtles from nearshore and offshore locations in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumini Vijayasarathy
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Christine Baduel
- Université Grenoble Alpes, IRD, CNRS, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France
| | - Christine Hof
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Species Conservation and Indigenous Partnerships Unit, World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Australia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Ian Bell
- Aquatic Species Program, Department of Environment and Science, Townsville, Australia
| | - María Del Mar Gómez Ramos
- Chemistry and Physics Department, University of Almeria, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - María José Gómez Ramos
- Chemistry and Physics Department, University of Almeria, Agrifood Campus of International Excellence (ceiA3), 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Marjolijn Kock
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Caroline Gaus
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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30
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Cortés-Gómez AA, Tvarijonaviciute A, Girondot M, Tecles F, Romero D. Relationship between plasma biochemistry values and metal concentrations in nesting olive ridley sea turtles. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:36671-36679. [PMID: 30377965 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3467-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A hundred nesting olive ridley turtles were sampled to determine biochemical parameters (ALP, AST, ALT, creatinine, albumin, cholesterol, glucose, proteins, triglycerides, urea, and P-nitrophenyl acetate esterase activity). Esterase activity (EA) is a new biomarker very sensitive to metals. Most of the samples showed detectable levels. We also analyzed the concentration of 11 inorganic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, Se, and Zn), some of them previously reported with very high concentrations in this population (especially cadmium with 82 and 150 μg g-1 ww in liver and kidney, respectively). Cadmium presented two negative relationships with creatinine and glucose. Some other understudied elements, Sr and Ti, for instance, presented five and four significant relationships with some biochemical parameters, respectively (most of them positive). EA was the parameter with most negative relationships (with Pb, Ti, As, Cr, and Se), reinforcing the results of other researchers in humans regarding the possible inhibition of EA by metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana A Cortés-Gómez
- Toxicology area. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
- Laboratory of Ecology, Systematics and Evolution, AgroParisTech, National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, 362 Rue du Doyen André Guinier, 91405, Orsay Cedex, France.
| | - Asta Tvarijonaviciute
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis Interlab-UMU, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Marc Girondot
- Laboratory of Ecology, Systematics and Evolution, AgroParisTech, National Center of Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris Saclay, Université Paris-Sud, 362 Rue du Doyen André Guinier, 91405, Orsay Cedex, France
| | - Fernando Tecles
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis Interlab-UMU, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Diego Romero
- Toxicology area. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain
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Cruz-Quintana A, Guzmán-Hernández V, Rodríguez-Santiago MA, Canales-Delgadillo J. Blood Chemical Profiles and Symbiotic Relationships of Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) Nesting in Campeche, Mexico. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1288.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Cruz-Quintana
- Universidad Autónoma del Carmen, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Campus III, Km. 9.0 Carretera Carmen – Puerto Real, C.P. 24155, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico []
| | - Vicente Guzmán-Hernández
- Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Laguna de Términos-Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Av. López Mateos s/n x Héroes del 21 de Abril, Playa Norte C.P. 24129, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico []
| | - María Amparo Rodríguez-Santiago
- CONACyT–Universidad Autónoma del Carmen. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Centro de Investigación de Ciencias Ambientales, Av. Laguna de Términos S/N, C.P. 24158, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico []
| | - Julio Canales-Delgadillo
- CONACyT–Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Estación El Carmen, UNAM, Km 9.5 Carr. Carmen – Puerto Real C.P. 24157, Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Mexico []
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Vilca FZ, Rossi S, de Olinda RA, Sánchez-Sarmiento AM, Prioste FES, Matushima ER, Tornisielo VL. Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in liver samples of juvenile green sea turtles from Brazil: Can these compounds play a role in the development of fibropapillomatosis? MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 130:215-222. [PMID: 29866550 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 01/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Fibropapillomatosis (FP) poses a significant threat to the conservation of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons-PAHs are considered mutagenic, carcinogenic and toxic, and can act as cofactor of this disease. In order to evaluate possible differences between green sea turtles with and without FP, we monitored 15 PAHs in liver samples of 44 specimens (24 with FP) captured in Brazil. We detected eight PAHs and quantified phenanthrene in all green sea turtles with FP. Specimens without FP presented lower values than the tumored ones (1.48 ng g-1 and 17.35 ng g-1, respectively; p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences between tumored and non-tumored specimens, among studied areas, or Southwest Atlantic Fibropapillomatosis Score. Even though we found higher concentrations in the liver samples of green sea turtles with FP, further studies are necessary to confirm if these pollutants are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Zirena Vilca
- Escuela de Posgrado de la Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av Floral 1153, Puno, Peru; Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), University of São Paulo, Av. Centenário 303, São Dimas, PO Box 96, CEP 13416-000 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
| | - Silmara Rossi
- Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Alves de Olinda
- Departamento de Estatística-CCT, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Bodocongó, 58101-001 Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
| | - Angélica Maria Sánchez-Sarmiento
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabíola Eloisa Setim Prioste
- Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Eliana Reiko Matushima
- Grupo de Pesquisa sobre Fibropapilomatose em Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens (LAPCOM), Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-270 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Valdemar Luiz Tornisielo
- Ecotoxicology Laboratory, Center of Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA), University of São Paulo, Av. Centenário 303, São Dimas, PO Box 96, CEP 13416-000 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
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Muñoz CC, Vermeiren P. Profiles of environmental contaminants in hawksbill turtle egg yolks reflect local to distant pollution sources among nesting beaches in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 135:43-54. [PMID: 29395262 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Knowledge of spatial variation in pollutant profiles among sea turtle nesting locations is limited. This poses challenges in identifying processes shaping this variability and sets constraints to the conservation management of sea turtles and their use as biomonitoring tools for environmental pollutants. We aimed to increase understanding of the spatial variation in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), organochlorine pesticide (OCP) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) compounds among nesting beaches. We link the spatial variation to turtle migration patterns and the persistence of these pollutants. Specifically, using gas chromatography, we confirmed maternal transfer of a large number of compounds (n = 68 out of 69) among 104 eggs collected from 21 nests across three nesting beaches within the Yucatán Peninsula, one of the world's most important rookeries for hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata). High variation in PAH profiles was observed among beaches, using multivariate correspondence analysis and univariate Peto-Prentice tests, reflecting local acquisition during recent migration movements. Diagnostic PAH ratios reflected petrogenic origins in Celestún, the beach closest to petroleum industries in the Gulf of Mexico. By contrast, pollution profiles of OCPs and PCBs showed high similarity among beaches, reflecting the long-term accumulation of these pollutants at regional scales. Therefore, spatial planning of protected areas and the use of turtle eggs in biomonitoring needs to account for the spatial variation in pollution profiles among nesting beaches.
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Cocci P, Mosconi G, Bracchetti L, Nalocca JM, Frapiccini E, Marini M, Caprioli G, Sagratini G, Palermo FA. Investigating the potential impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on gene biomarker expression and global DNA methylation in loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) from the Adriatic Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 619-620:49-57. [PMID: 29136534 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are priority contaminants that bioaccumulate through the food webs and affect the biology of a variety of resident and migratory species, including sea turtles. Few studies have evaluated toxicological biomarkers of exposure to PAHs and PCBs in these animals. The present paper reports the results of an initial field study to quantify the association between plasma concentrations of PAHs/PCBs and whole blood cell expression of gene biomarkers in juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) rescued along the Italian coasts of the northern and central areas of the Adriatic Sea. While detectable levels of PAHs were found in all plasma samples examined, only three PCB congeners (PCB52, PCB95, and PCB149) were noted, with detection percentages ranging between 48% and 57%. A significant correlation was found between 3 of the 6 gene biomarkers assessed (HSP60, CYP1A and ERα) and plasma levels of some PAH congeners. In contrast, no significant association between PCB burden and gene expression was observed. The global DNA methylation levels were significantly and positively correlated with the concentrations of most of the PAHs and only one of the PCB congeners (PCB52). The relation between PAH concentration and gene expression in whole blood cells suggests that these genes may respond to environmental contaminant exposure and are promising candidates for the development of biomarkers for monitoring sea turtle exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cocci
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Gilberto Mosconi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Luca Bracchetti
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - John Mark Nalocca
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Emanuela Frapiccini
- Institute of Marine Sciences (CBR-ISMAR), National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca 2, 60125 Ancona, AN, Italy
| | - Mauro Marini
- Institute of Marine Sciences (CBR-ISMAR), National Research Council, Largo Fiera della Pesca 2, 60125 Ancona, AN, Italy
| | - Giovanni Caprioli
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Sant'Agostino 1, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Gianni Sagratini
- School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Via Sant'Agostino 1, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Francesco Alessandro Palermo
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy.
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Dubansky B, Verbeck G, Mach P, Burggren W. Methodology for exposing avian embryos to quantified levels of airborne aromatic compounds associated with crude oil spills. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2018; 58:163-169. [PMID: 29408758 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2018.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Oil spills on birds and other organisms have focused primarily on direct effects of oil exposure through ingestion or direct body fouling. Little is known of indirect effects of airborne volatiles from spilled oil, especially on vulnerable developing embryos within the bird egg. Here a technique is described for exposing bird embryos in the egg to quantifiable amounts of airborne volatile toxicants from Deepwater Horizon crude oil. A novel membrane inlet mass spectrometry system was used to measure major classes of airborne oil-derived toxicants and correlate these exposures with biological endpoints. Exposure induced a reduction in platelet number and increase in osmolality of the blood of embryos of the chicken (Gallus gallus). Additionally, expression of cytochrome P4501A, a protein biomarker of oil exposure, occurred in renal, pulmonary, hepatic and vascular tissues. These data confirm that this system for generating and measuring airborne volatiles can be used for future in-depth analysis of the toxicity of volatile organic compounds in birds and potentially other terrestrial organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Dubansky
- University of North Texas, Department of Biological Sciences, Developmental Integrative Biology Cluster, 1155 Union Circle, Denton, TX, 76203, United States.
| | - Guido Verbeck
- University of North Texas, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laboratory for Imaging Mass Spectrometry, 1417 Hickory Street, Denton, TX, 76203, United States
| | - Phillip Mach
- University of North Texas, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laboratory for Imaging Mass Spectrometry, 1417 Hickory Street, Denton, TX, 76203, United States; Aberdeen Proving Ground, 5183 Balckhawk Rd, E3150, Gunpowder, MD, 21010, United States
| | - Warren Burggren
- University of North Texas, Department of Biological Sciences, Developmental Integrative Biology Cluster, 1155 Union Circle, Denton, TX, 76203, United States
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Failla G, Calais Júnior A, Pavanelli L, Nunes L. Histomorphometric analysis of gonads of green turtles (chelonia mydas) stranded on the coast of Espírito Santo state, Brazil. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2018. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-9431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Studies on reproduction in sea turtles are important due to its life cycle, migratory patterns, high juvenile mortality and environmental impacts. This study aimed to analyse histomorphometrically gonads of C. mydas from the coastline of the Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Ovaries and testicles were collected between 2014 and 2015 from stranded animals. The material was fixed in formalin 10%, assessed macroscopically and processed for histomorphometrical evaluation. Gonads from 34 individuals were evaluated, twenty-four females and ten males. Macroscopic sexual identification presented 100% accuracy confirmed by histology. Sexual dimorphism was observed in one individual, which was considered as adult (CCL=1.023 m). Microscopy of female gonads revealed predominant previtellogenic follicles; oocyte diameter ranged between 161µm and 750µm and a positive correlation between ovarian length, largest oocyte and CCL was found. In males, autolysis was verified in five individuals. Viable testicles revealed predominant spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes and Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules and, Leydig cells and fibroblasts in the stroma. There was a positive correlation between tubular diameter and CCL and testicle length and CCL. Maturation of stromal tissue and a positive correlation between tubular lumen and CCL were also observed. Gonad development is proportional to individual growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Failla
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil
| | | | | | - L.C. Nunes
- Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil
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Novillo O, Pertusa JF, Tomás J. Exploring the presence of pollutants at sea: Monitoring heavy metals and pesticides in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the western Mediterranean. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 598:1130-1139. [PMID: 28482460 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Marine turtles are considered good sentinel species for environmental assessment because of their long lifespan, feeding ecology, habitat use and migratory nature. In the present study, we assessed presence of cadmium, lead and mercury, together with organic pollutants, both in fat and muscle tissue of 25 stranded loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the Valencian Community coast (East Spain) (43.7±13.5cm). Mean concentrations of Cd, Pb and Hg were 0.04μg/g w.w., 0.09μg/g w.w. and 0.03μg/g w.w. in fat and 0.05μg/g, 0.08μg/g and 0.04μg/g in muscle, respectively. These measures indicate a relatively low mean heavy metal concentration, which may be explained by juvenile size and developmental stage of the turtles analysed. A preliminary non-targeted analysis (using time-of-flight (TOF) technology), made for the first time in marine turtles, allowed to detect 39 different pesticides, most of them previously undetected in this species. Most of the organic substances detected are used in agricultural activities, and the use of 15 of them (38.5%) is not approved in the European Union. Our sample did not show any trend on pollutant contents in relation to turtle size or stranding location, probably because of the high diversity of pollutants found. However, the potential for a positive latitudinal gradient should be explored in future studies due to riverine inputs and high agricultural and industrial activities in the area. Despite the high diversity of pollutants found here, comparative studies of pollutants in other matrices at sea are needed to ascertain whether the loggerhead turtle is a good sentinel of chemical pollution in the western Mediterranean.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Novillo
- Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (ICBiBE), University of Valencia, Catedrático José Beltrán Martínez St., 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
| | - J F Pertusa
- Functional Biology and Physical Antropology Department, University of Valencia, Doctor Moliner St., 50, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
| | - J Tomás
- Marine Zoology Unit, Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (ICBiBE), University of Valencia, Catedrático José Beltrán Martínez St., 2, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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Cocci P, Capriotti M, Mosconi G, Palermo FA. Effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on estrogen receptor alpha and heat shock protein 60 gene expression in primary cultures of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) erythrocytes. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2017; 158:616-624. [PMID: 28719870 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) can be considered a good indicator species for studying the ecological impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on wildlife. However, the effect of these environmental pollutants on nuclear steroid hormone signaling has not yet been addressed in sea turtles mainly due to the legal constraints of their endangered status. Here we describe the use of primary erythrocyte cell cultures as in vitro models for evaluating the effects of different EDCs on the expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα). In addition, we evaluated erythrocyte toxicity caused by EDCs using Alamar Blue assay and heat shock proteins 60 (HSP60) expression. Primary cultures of erythrocytes were exposed to increasing concentrations of 4-nonylphenol (4NP), Diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP), Tri-m-cresyl phosphate (TMCP) and Tributyltin (TBT) for 48h. Alamar Blue demonstrated that exposure of erythrocytes to each contaminant for up to 48h led to a significant impairment of cellular metabolic activity at 100μM, with the exception of TBT. Moreover, our data indicate that loggerhead erythrocytes constitutively express ERα and HSP60 at the transcript level and respond to EDCs by up-regulating their expression. In this regard, ERα was up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner after 48h exposure to both 4NP and TMCP. Interestingly, the dosage-dependent effects of DiDP on ERα expression were opposite in comparison to that obtained following exposure to the other tested compounds. This work provides the first indication regarding the potential of primary erythrocytes as study models for evaluating the effects of EDCs on sea turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cocci
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy.
| | - Martina Capriotti
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Gilberto Mosconi
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
| | - Francesco Alessandro Palermo
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Via Gentile III Da Varano, I-62032 Camerino, MC, Italy
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Rousselet E, Levin M, Gebhard E, Higgins BM, DeGuise S, Godard-Codding CAJ. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) modulate both phagocytosis and NK cell activity in vitro in juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2017; 80:556-561. [PMID: 28841368 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2017.1363102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Threatened loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) face numerous environmental challenges, including exposure to anthropogenic chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Despite being banned by the USA in the 1970s, PCBs persist in the environment and produce immunotoxic effects in a wide range of marine vertebrate species. This is of particular concern, as the modulation of the immune system may enhance the susceptibility to a variety of pathogens. Blood samples were collected from 19 immature, captive-reared loggerhead sea turtles. Functional immune assays phagocytosis and natural killer (NK) cell activity were used to quantify the direct effects of PCB congeners 105, 138, and 169 on innate immune functions upon in vitro exposure of sea turtle cells to increasing concentrations (control (0), 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, or 20 ppm) of each PCB. PCB 105 significantly elevated eosinophil phagocytosis at 10 and 15 ppm and PCB 138 at 15 ppm compared to unexposed (0 ppm). The effects of PCB 169 on phagocytosis were not evaluated. PCB 138 and 105 significantly decreased NK cell activity at 15 and 20 ppm, compared to unexposed (0 ppm) controls. PCB 169 did not markedly modulate NK activity. This constitutes the first study to investigate the in vitro effects of these three PCBs on sea turtle innate immune functions. These results add to our understanding of PCB-induced immunotoxicity in sea turtles and may provide a framework for establishing the relationships between chemical levels and turtle immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Rousselet
- a Department of Environmental Toxicology , The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University , Lubbock , TX , USA
- b Aquatic Animal Health Program, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences , University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine , Gainesville , FL , USA
| | - Milton Levin
- c Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science , University of Connecticut , Storrs , CT , USA
| | - Erika Gebhard
- c Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science , University of Connecticut , Storrs , CT , USA
| | - Benjamin M Higgins
- d National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center , Galveston , TX , USA
| | - Sylvain DeGuise
- c Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science , University of Connecticut , Storrs , CT , USA
| | - Céline A J Godard-Codding
- a Department of Environmental Toxicology , The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University , Lubbock , TX , USA
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Simvastatin down-regulates differential genetic profiles produced by organochlorine mixtures in primary breast cell (HMEC). Chem Biol Interact 2017; 268:85-92. [PMID: 28263720 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Revised: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Women all over the world are exposed to an unavoidable contamination by organochlorine pesticides and other chemical pollutants. Many of them are considered as xenoestrogens and have been associated with the development and progression of breast cancer. We have demonstrated that the most prevalent pesticide mixtures found in healthy women and in women diagnosed with breast cancer modulates the gene expression in human epithelial mammary cells. Statins are well-known cholesterol-depleting agents acting as inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis. Since the early 1990s, it has been known that statins could be successfully used in cancer therapy, including breast cancer, but the exact mechanism behind anti-tumor activity of the statins remains unclear. In the present study we evaluated the effect of simvastatin in the gene expression pattern induced by realistic organochlorine mixtures found in breast cancer patients. The gene expression of 94 genes related with the cell signaling pathways were assessed. Our results indicate that simvastatin exerts a global down regulating effect on successfully determined genes (78.7%), thus attenuating the effects induced by organochlorine mixtures on the gene profile of human mammary epithelial cells. This effect was more evident on genes whose function is the ATP-binding process (that also were particularly up-regulated by pesticide mixtures). We also found that MERTK (a proto-oncogene which is overexpressed in several malignancies) and PDGFRB (a member of the platelet-derived growth factor family whose expression is high in breast-cancer cells that have become resistant to endocrine therapy) were among the genes with a higher differential regulation by simvastatin. Since resistance to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors is closely related to MERKT, our findings would enhance the possible utility of statins in breast cancer treatment, i.e. improving therapeutic results combining statins with tyrosine Kinase inhibitors.
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Tremblay N, Ortíz Arana A, González Jáuregui M, Rendón-von Osten J. Relationship between organochlorine pesticides and stress indicators in hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting at Punta Xen (Campeche), Southern Gulf of Mexico. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2017; 26:173-183. [PMID: 28025743 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-016-1752-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Data on the impact of environmental pollution on the homeostasis of sea turtles remains scarce, particularly in the Southern Gulf of Mexico. As many municipalities along the coastline of the Yucatan Peninsula do not rely on a waste treatment plant, these organisms could be particularly vulnerable. We searched for relationships between the presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and the level of several oxidative and pollutant stress indicators of the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) during the 2010 nesting season at Punta Xen (Campeche, Mexico). Of the 30 sampled sea turtles, endosulfans, aldrin related (aldrin, endrin, dieldrin, endrin ketone, endrin aldehyde) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDT) families were detected in 17, 21 and 26, respectively. Significant correlation existed between the size of sea turtles with the concentration of methoxychlor, cholinesterase activity in plasma and heptachlors family, and catalase activity and hexachlorohexane family. Cholinesterase activity in washed erythrocytes and lipid peroxidation were positively correlated with glutathione reductase activity. Antioxidant enzyme actions seem adequate as no lipids damages were correlated with any OCPs. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of OCPs on males of the area due to the significant detection of methoxychlor, which target endocrine functioning and increases its concentration with sea turtles size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly Tremblay
- Instituto EPOMEX, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche, Campeche, Mexico
| | | | - Mauricio González Jáuregui
- Instituto EPOMEX, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Campeche, Campeche, Mexico
- Biología y Conservación de Vertebrados, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. Carretera antigua a Coatepec 351, El Haya, Xalapa, 91070, Veracruz, Mexico
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Henríquez-Hernández LA, Montero D, Camacho M, Ginés R, Boada LD, Ramírez Bordón B, Valerón PF, Almeida-González M, Zumbado M, Haroun R, Luzardo OP. Comparative analysis of selected semi-persistent and emerging pollutants in wild-caught fish and aquaculture associated fish using Bogue (Boops boops) as sentinel species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 581-582:199-208. [PMID: 28043704 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The marine environment acts as a sink for diverse anthropogenic pollutants, although the environmental contamination may be non-uniformly distributed. In recent decades, the aquaculture sector has experienced a steady growth postulating as a good alternative for seafood production. However, a social debate exits about the differential level of pollutants in wild and farmed species. This study was designed to evaluate the level of pollutants in a sentinel species: Bogue (Boops boops) associated and non-associated to fish-farm cages. A total of 82 chemical substances were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, including persistent (polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)), semi-persistent (bromodiphenyl ethers (BDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)), and emerging pollutants (such as organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and UV-filters). In general, aquaculture-associated bogues showed lower levels of semi-persistent and emerging pollutants than wild-caught fish, especially when sums were considered. Thus, sum of BDEs was significantly lower in the aquaculture group (p=0.01). A similar trend was also observed for benzo(a)anthracene, the UV-filter 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate and some OPFRs. In the case of persistent pollutants, the sum of dioxin-like PCBs and sum of DDTs were lower in the group of wild-caught bogues (p=0.034 and p=0.003, respectively) than in aquaculture-associated bogues, as previously described for some aquaculture species. Fish feed appear as an important factor in the uptake of such substances suggesting a diet intervention to reduce their levels in the aquaculture products. Another interesting result is that for almost all chemical substances analyzed, bogues captured near sewage outfalls showed the highest levels of pollutants, pointing out the need of stringent measures for wastewater treatment units discharging in coastal areas. On the light of these results, further research in specific farmed and wild fish species in relation to their dietary value and pollutant's levels seems to be mandatory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Alberto Henríquez-Hernández
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Daniel Montero
- Aquaculture Research Group (GIA), ECOAQUA Institute, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n., 35214 Telde, Spain
| | - María Camacho
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Rafael Ginés
- Aquaculture Research Group (GIA), ECOAQUA Institute, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n., 35214 Telde, Spain
| | - Luis D Boada
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Besay Ramírez Bordón
- Biodiversity and Conservation Research Group (BIOCON), ECOAQUA Institute, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n., 35214 Telde, Spain
| | - Pilar F Valerón
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Maira Almeida-González
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Manuel Zumbado
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Ricardo Haroun
- Biodiversity and Conservation Research Group (BIOCON), ECOAQUA Institute, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Crta. Taliarte s/n., 35214 Telde, Spain
| | - Octavio P Luzardo
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain; Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Paseo Blas Cabrera Felipe s/n, 35016 Las Palmas, Spain.
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Hernández ÁR, Boada LD, Mendoza Z, Ruiz-Suárez N, Valerón PF, Camacho M, Zumbado M, Almeida-González M, Henríquez-Hernández LA, Luzardo OP. Consumption of organic meat does not diminish the carcinogenic potential associated with the intake of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:4261-4273. [PMID: 25893622 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4477-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have shown an epidemiological link between meat consumption and the incidence of cancer, and it has been suggested that this relationship may be motivated by the presence of carcinogenic contaminants on it. Among the most frequently detected contaminants in meat are several types of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and it is well known that many of them are carcinogenic. On the other hand, an increasing number of consumers choose to feed on what are perceived as healthier foods. Thus, the number of consumers of organic food is growing. However, environmental contamination by POPs is ubiquitous, and it is therefore unlikely that the practices of organic food production are able to prevent this contamination. To test this hypothesis, we acquired 76 samples of meat (beef, chicken, and lamb) of two modes of production (organic and conventional) and quantified their levels of 33 carcinogenic POPs. On this basis, we determined the human meat-related daily dietary exposure to these carcinogens using as a model a population with a high consumption of meat, such as the Spanish population. The maximum allowable meat consumption for this population and the carcinogenic risk quotients associated with the current pattern of consumption were calculated. As expected, no sample was completely free of carcinogenic contaminants, and the differences between organically and conventionally produced meats were minimal. According to these results, the current pattern of meat consumption exceeded the maximum limits, which are set according to the levels of contaminations, and this is associated with a relevant carcinogenic risk. Strikingly, the consumption of organically produced meat does not diminish this carcinogenic risk, but on the contrary, it seems to be even higher, especially that associated with lamb consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Rodríguez Hernández
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Luis D Boada
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Canary Islands Institute for the Research of Cancer (ICIC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Zenaida Mendoza
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Norberto Ruiz-Suárez
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Pilar F Valerón
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - María Camacho
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Manuel Zumbado
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Canary Islands Institute for the Research of Cancer (ICIC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Maira Almeida-González
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Luis A Henríquez-Hernández
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Octavio P Luzardo
- Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
- Canary Islands Institute for the Research of Cancer (ICIC), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
- Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (CIBERObn), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
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Ylitalo GM, Collier TK, Anulacion BF, Juaire K, Boyer RH, da Silva DAM, Keene JL, Stacy BA. Determining oil and dispersant exposure in sea turtles from the northern Gulf of Mexico resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Stacy NI, Field CL, Staggs L, MacLean RA, Stacy BA, Keene J, Cacela D, Pelton C, Cray C, Kelley M, Holmes S, Innis CJ. Clinicopathological findings in sea turtles assessed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2017. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Formigaro C, Karamanlidis AA, Dendrinos P, Marsili L, Silvi M, Zaccaroni A. Trace element concentrations in the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 576:528-537. [PMID: 27810742 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.10.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 10/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. The biggest sub-population of the species survives in Greece, where understanding the effects of pollution on the survival of the species has been identified as a national research and conservation priority. From 1990 to 2013 we collected tissue samples from 59 deceased monk seals in order to: (i) Define the concentration of trace elements (As, Pb, Cd, Hg, Se, Cr, Ni) in three different matrices (i.e., blubber, liver and kidney), (ii) Determine whether differences in trace element concentrations are age- or gender-related, (iii) Evaluate the potential effects of these pollutants. The study recorded differences in trace element concentrations among matrices, but in general, trace element exposure in Mediterranean monk seals in Greece was low and within the non-acutely toxic levels for Pinnipeds. Only arsenic concentrations were at the upper limit of the normal range observed in other marine mammals (0.69±0.55mg/kg w.w. in blubber, 0.79±0.62mg/kg w.w. in liver and 0.79±0.59mg/kg w.w. in kidney). We recorded also exceptionally high Hg concentrations in a single adult female (24.88mg/kg w.w.). Age- and gender-related differences were also recorded and were due to various biological, ecological and chemical factors. Based on the results of the study, potentially adverse effects on the immune and endocrine system of the Mediterranean monk seal from some pollutants (e.g., As, Cd, Se, Ni, Cr) cannot be ruled out, which may expose the Mediterranean seal population in Greece to epizootics and stochastic phenomena of mass mortality. It is therefore of utmost importance that pollutant monitoring becomes an integral component of the standard monitoring protocol of the endangered Mediterranean monk seal in the eastern Mediterranean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Formigaro
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy
| | - Alexandros A Karamanlidis
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Dendrinos
- MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal, Solomou Str. 18, 10682 Athens, Greece
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena (SI), Italy
| | - Marina Silvi
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy
| | - Annalisa Zaccaroni
- Large Pelagic Vertebrate Group, Department Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico (FC), Italy.
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Zychowski GV, Godard-Codding CAJ. Reptilian exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and associated effects. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2017; 36:25-35. [PMID: 27557365 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Reptiles are an underrepresented taxon in ecotoxicological literature, and the means by which toxicants play a role in population declines are only partially understood. Among the contaminants of interest for reptiles are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of organic compounds that is already a concern for numerous other taxa. The objectives of the present review are to summarize the existing literature on reptilian exposure to PAHs and synthesize general conclusions, to identify knowledge gaps within this niche of research, and to suggest future directions for research. Results confirm a relative scarcity of information on reptilian exposure to PAHs, although research continues to grow, particularly after significant contamination events. The orders Testudines and Squamata are better represented than the orders Crocodilia and Rhynchocephalia. For the taxonomic orders with relevant literature (all but Rhynchocephalia), some species are more frequently represented than others. Few studies establish solid cause-effect relationships after reptilian exposure to PAHs, and many more studies are suggestive of effect or increased risk of effect. Despite the scarcity of information in this area, researchers have already employed a wide variety of approaches to address PAH-related questions for reptiles, including molecular techniques, modeling, and field surveys. As more research is completed, a thoughtful interpretation of available and emerging data is necessary to make the most effective use of this information. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:25-35. © 2016 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory V Zychowski
- The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
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Rees AF, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Barata PCR, Bjorndal KA, Bolten AB, Bourjea J, Broderick AC, Campbell LM, Cardona L, Carreras C, Casale P, Ceriani SA, Dutton PH, Eguchi T, Formia A, Fuentes MMPB, Fuller WJ, Girondot M, Godfrey MH, Hamann M, Hart KM, Hays GC, Hochscheid S, Kaska Y, Jensen MP, Mangel JC, Mortimer JA, Naro-Maciel E, Ng CKY, Nichols WJ, Phillott AD, Reina RD, Revuelta O, Schofield G, Seminoff JA, Shanker K, Tomás J, van de Merwe JP, Van Houtan KS, Vander Zanden HB, Wallace BP, Wedemeyer-Strombel KR, Work TM, Godley BJ. Are we working towards global research priorities for management and conservation of sea turtles? ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2016. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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50
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Finlayson KA, Leusch FDL, van de Merwe JP. The current state and future directions of marine turtle toxicology research. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 94:113-123. [PMID: 27236406 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Revised: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/14/2016] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Chemical contamination of marine turtles has been well documented in the literature, although information on the toxicological effects of these contaminants is poorly understood. This paper systematically and quantitatively presents the available marine turtle toxicological research (excluding oil chemicals and natural toxins) and the related fields of cell line establishment and biomarkers as indicators of exposure. Examination of the published literature identified a total of 49 papers on marine turtle toxicology, which were split into three categories: toxicity studies (n=33, 67%), cell line establishment (n=7, 14%), and publications using biomarkers (n=13, 27%). Toxicity studies were further broken down into four subcategories: those correlating contaminants with toxicological endpoints (n=16, 48%); in vitro exposure experiments (n=11, 33%); in vivo exposure experiments (n=5, 15%); and screening risk assessments using hazard quotients (n=3, 9%). In quantitatively assessing the literature, trends and gaps in this field of research were identified. This paper highlights the need for more marine turtle toxicology research on all species, particularly using high throughput and non-invasive in vitro assays developed for marine turtle cells, including investigations into further toxicological endpoints and mixture effects. This will provide more comprehensive species-specific assessment of the impacts of chemical contaminants on these threatened animals, and improve conservation and management strategies globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Finlayson
- Smart Water Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
| | - Frederic D L Leusch
- Smart Water Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Jason P van de Merwe
- Smart Water Research Centre, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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