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Cammilleri G, Galluzzo FG, Pulvirenti A, Pantano L, Calabrese V, Gentile A, Cumbo V, Macaluso A, Macaluso V, Vella A, Ferrantelli V. Toxic metals in Loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta) stranded freshly dead along Sicilian coasts. Vet Q 2023; 43:1-10. [PMID: 36644861 PMCID: PMC9870007 DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2023.2169781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a marine reptile belonging to a monophyletic group of chelonians. As these animals are long-lived, they have the ability to accumulate pollutants. AIM To collect epidemiological data on toxic metals in marine Loggerhead sea turtles. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty Loggerhead sea turtles comprising 25 males and 15 females stranded freshly dead between 2013 and 2018 along the coasts of Sicily, Southern Italy, were examined for arsenic, cadmium, and lead accumulation in muscle and adipose tissues by means of a validated ICP-MS method. A modified K index as a growth condition factor, namely Fulton's K index, was used. Samples were tested in duplicate. A Wilcoxon rank sum test was carried out to evaluate metal contents differences between muscle and adipose tissues and between genders. RESULTS The Fulton's K index suggested a good body condition of the C. caretta recovered with mean values of 5.34 ± 3.40 (n = 40; ±SD). Detectable concentrations of lead were found in 70% of the samples analysed with mean values of 0.65 ± 1.67 mg/kg wet weight and 0.51 ± 1.29 mg/kg wet weight in muscle and adipose tissues, respectively. No significant differences in arsenic, cadmium, and lead were detected between genders. In addition, no significant correlation was found between modified K index and concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, and lead. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings on muscle and adipose tissues suggest chronic exposure of Caretta caretta to high concentrations of especially lead which might negatively affect health and welfare of these marine turtles although body condition was good.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Cammilleri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Francesco Giuseppe Galluzzo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy,CONTACT Francesco Giuseppe Galluzzo Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Via Università 4, 41121Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Pulvirenti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Licia Pantano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vittorio Calabrese
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Biotecnologiche, Università degli Studi di Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Antonino Gentile
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valentina Cumbo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Andrea Macaluso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vito Macaluso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Vella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A. Mirri”, Palermo, Italy
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C Muñoz C, Vermeiren P. Sea turtle egg yolk and albumen as biomonitoring matrices for maternal burdens of organic pollutants. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 194:115280. [PMID: 37467705 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
To establish the use of eggs as biomonitoring tools for maternal body burdens, we investigated the mother-to-egg ratio of 56 PCB, 12 OCP and 34 PBDE unique compounds from maternal plasma into replicate egg yolk and albumen samples in the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) as a case study of a threatened migratory marine species. We applied robust Regression on Order Statistics to fully account for the information in both censored and uncensored data. Our results added new insights into the use of yolk as a suitable biomonitoring matrix; the difference between yolk and albumen which were previously analysed as a homogeneous mixture; and the value of accounting for censored data. Overall, compound-specific mother-to-egg ratios need to be considered when translating yolk levels back to maternal pollution burdens, and when assessing the risk to the subsequent generations of turtle embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia C Muñoz
- Dept. Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø, Norway.
| | - P Vermeiren
- Dept. Natural Science and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø, Norway
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Salvarani PI, Vieira LR, Rendón-von Osten J, Morgado F. Hawksbill Sea Turtle ( Eretmochelys imbricata) Blood and Eggs Organochlorine Pesticides Concentrations and Embryonic Development in a Nesting Area (Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico). TOXICS 2023; 11:50. [PMID: 36668776 PMCID: PMC9865186 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11010050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contaminants with chemical origins, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have major impacts on the health of marine animals, including sea turtles, due to the bioaccumulation of those substances by transference throughout the food chain. The effects of environmental pollution on the health of marine turtles are very important for management strategies and conservation. During recent decades, the south Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula have suffered from increasingly frequent disturbances from continental landmasses, river systems, urban wastewater runoff, port areas, tourism, industrial activities, pesticides from agricultural use, and other pollutants, such as metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and hydrocarbons (from the oil industry activities), which contaminate water and sediments and worsen the environmental quality of the marine ecosystem in this region. In this study, we assessed the concentrations of OCPs in the blood and eggs of 60 hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) nesting at the Punta Xen turtle camp, and their effects on the nesting population's reproductive performance: specifically, maternal transfer and embryonic development were analyzed. Hematologic characteristics, including packed cell volume, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and haemoglobin levels, and plasma chemistry values, including creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, triglyceride, total cholesterol and glucose, were also measured. The general health of the turtles in this study, as well as their levels of urea, serum creatinine, glucose, uric, acid, cholesterol, and triglyceride, fell within normal ranges and was similar to other normal values, which could indicate the turtles' good energy levels and body conditions for nest-building activity, with all of the turtles able to successfully come ashore to nest. All the same, the obtained results also indicate that OCPs affect the nesting and reproductive performance of the hawksbill turtles, as well as their fertility and the development of the population of eggs and reproductive performance, specifically in terms of maternal transference and embryonic development. There were significant differences in the concentrations of OCPs (ΣHCHs and ΣDienes) between maternal blood and eggs, indicating that these chemicals are transferred from nesting females to eggs and, ultimately, to hatchlings. OCPs may, therefore, have an effect on the health and reproductive performance of hawksbill turtles, both in terms of their fertility and egg development. Conservation strategies need to be species-specific, due to differences in feeding, and address the reasons for any decline, focusing on regional assessments. Thus, accurate and comparable monitoring data are necessary, which requires the standardization of monitoring protocols.
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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
| | - Luis R. Vieira
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Av. General Norton de Matos s/n, 2250-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
- School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (ICBAS), University of Porto, 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, Campeche 24039, Mexico
| | - Fernando Morgado
- Department of Biology and the Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Esposito M, Canzanella S, Iaccarino D, Bruno T, Esposito E, Di Nocera F, Arienzo M, Ferrara L, Gallo P. Levels of non-dioxin-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) in liver of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from the Tyrrhenian Sea (Southern Italy). CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136393. [PMID: 36096300 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The levels of six non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) were determined in the liver of 84 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea in Campania Region (Southern Italy), from 2017 to 2021. The average value of the sum (∑6PCBIND) was 28.0 ± 52.2 ng/g (w.w.). The hexachlorobiphenyls PCB 153 and PCB 138 and the heptachlorobiphenyl PCB 180 were the main contributors to the ∑6PCBIND. A weak positive correlation was found between CCL and highly chlorinated PCBs, with adult females having lower PCB concentrations than juvenile females and adult males. This study provides more comprehensive information on the levels of NDL-PCB in Mediterranean loggerhead turtles and sets the basis for assessing anthropogenic impacts on this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Esposito
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2 - Portici, Italy; Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'Analisi e Studio di Correlazione tra Ambiente, Animale e Uomo, IZS Mezzogiorno, Portici, Italy
| | - Silvia Canzanella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2 - Portici, Italy; Centro di Referenza Nazionale per l'Analisi e Studio di Correlazione tra Ambiente, Animale e Uomo, IZS Mezzogiorno, Portici, Italy.
| | - Doriana Iaccarino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2 - Portici, Italy
| | - Teresa Bruno
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2 - Portici, Italy
| | - Emanuele Esposito
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2 - Portici, Italy
| | - Fabio Di Nocera
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2 - Portici, Italy
| | - Michele Arienzo
- Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources, University of Naples Federico II, Via Vicinale Cupa Cintia 21, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Luciano Ferrara
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Vicinale Cupa Cintia 21, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Gallo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Del Mezzogiorno, Via Salute, 2 - Portici, Italy
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Chlorinated Persistent Organic Pollutants (PCDD/Fs and PCBs) in Loggerhead Sea Turtles Stranded along the Central Adriatic Coast. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223177. [PMID: 36428404 PMCID: PMC9686616 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants are widespread in the marine environment. They can bioaccumulate and biomagnify in marine organisms through the food web with a potentially toxic effect on living organisms. The sea turtle Caretta caretta is a carnivorous animal with opportunistic feeding behavior. These turtles tend to bioaccumulate pollutants through food, and hence they can be considered an indicator of chemical pollutants in the marine ecosystem. In this study, 44 loggerhead sea turtles were considered, and liver and fat tissue were sampled from each of them to investigate the levels of dioxins (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sea turtles and their potential correlation with sex and size in terms of curved carapace length (CCL). Results suggested that these contaminants were easily bioaccumulated, and PCBs were predominant compared to dioxins in both liver and fat tissue. The congener patterns were similar to those found in sea fish. Moreover, there were no differences in the contamination levels between females and males, nor was there a correlation with the size. There is a need to harmonize the methodological approaches to better evaluate the results and trends over time and to monitor the species and indirectly the health status of the marine environment.
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Weltmeyer A, Dogruer G, Hollert H, Ouellet JD, Townsend K, Covaci A, Weijs L. Distribution and toxicity of persistent organic pollutants and methoxylated polybrominated diphenylethers in different tissues of the green turtle Chelonia mydas. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 277:116795. [PMID: 33640813 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Investigating environmental pollution is important to understand its impact on endangered species such as green turtles (Chelonia mydas). In this study, we investigated the accumulation and potential toxicity of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and naturally occurring MeO-PBDEs in liver, fat, kidney and muscle of turtles (n = 30) of different gender, size, year of death, location and health status. Overall, POP concentrations were low and accumulation was highest in liver and lowest in fat which is likely due to the poor health of several animals, causing a remobilization of lipids and associated compounds. PCBs and p,p'-DDE dominated the POP profiles, and relatively high MeO-PBDE concentrations (2'-MeO-BDE 68 up to 192 ng/g lw, 6-MeO-BDE 47 up to 79 ng/g lw) were detected in all tissues. Only few influences of factors such as age, gender and location were found. While concentrations were low compared to other marine wildlife, biological toxicity equivalences obtained by screening the tissue extracts using the micro-EROD assay ranged from 2.8 to 356 pg/g and the highest values were observed in muscle, followed by kidney and liver. This emphazises that pollutant mixtures found in the turtles have the potential to cause dioxin-like effects in these animals and that dioxin-like compounds should not be overlooked in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonia Weltmeyer
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Gülsah Dogruer
- School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia; Wageningen Marine Research, Wageningen University and Research, Ijmuiden, the Netherlands
| | - Henner Hollert
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Jacob D Ouellet
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, Aachen, Germany; Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany
| | - Kathy Townsend
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, Australia
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Weijs
- School of Environment and Science, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
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7
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Lambiase S, Serpe FP, Pilia M, Fiorito F, Iaccarino D, Gallo P, Esposito M. Polychlorinated organic pollutants (PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs) in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles from Central-Southern Tyrrhenian Sea. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 263:128226. [PMID: 33297182 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study assesses for the first time the levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in sea turtles coming from Tyrrhenian Sea. The concentrations measured in liver of the 24 specimens analysed were 6.90 vs 5.65 pg g-1 wet weight (ww) for PCDD/Fs and 10.95 vs 0.79 ng g-1 ww for DL-PCBs in Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, respectively. The DL-PCB levels resulted very higher in Caretta caretta than Chelonia mydas probably due to the different eating habits between the two species investigated. Furthermore, the highest levels of DL-PCBs were determined in livers of the adult Caretta caretta turtles of male sex. Positive correlations were found out between PCB-81 and the body mass (BM) of turtles (r2 = 0.6561; p = 0.001) and between PCB-81 and the curved carapace length (CCL) (r2 = 0.6250; p = 0.006) suggesting that the body burden of contaminants is related to the body size. The mean TEQ values, as a matter of risk assessment for turtles, were 3.64 vs 1.62 pg TEQ g-1 ww for PCDD/Fs and 8.72 vs 2.16 pg TEQ g-1 ww for DL-PCBs in Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas, respectively. The results reported in this study increase the data available about the consequences of the Mediterranean Sea contamination by organochlorine pollutants and highlight an evident PCDD/F and PCB bioaccumulation in sea turtle tissues that threatens the survival of these marine organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Lambiase
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | | | - Marisa Pilia
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Filomena Fiorito
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Doriana Iaccarino
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Pasquale Gallo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Mauro Esposito
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, 80055, Portici, Italy
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Capanni F, Muñoz-Arnanz J, Marsili L, Fossi MC, Jiménez B. Assessment of PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and PBDEs in Mediterranean striped dolphins. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 156:111207. [PMID: 32510364 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111207] [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: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bio-accumulation of high levels of persistent organic pollutants represent a serious conservation concern for Mediterranean marine odontocetes. In this study, blubber samples from 10 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded along the Italian coasts during 2015-2016 were analyzed. All specimens showed dl-PCBs > PBDEs ≫ PCDD/Fs. Median concentrations were 1820 ng/g l.w., 456 ng/g l.w. and 23.9 pg/g l.w., respectively. dl-PCBs accounted for 93.3% of total TEQs. PBDE concentrations suggest that the Mediterranean basin may be considered a hotspot for organobromine compounds. OCDD did not represent the greatest contributor to PCDD/Fs profile, most likely due to a change in dioxin environmental sources in the last two-three decades. Despite international regulations, the present study emphasized that POP exposure levels in Mediterranean striped dolphins have not declined significantly in recent years. Toxicological and risk assessment studies on this sentinel species may provide an early indication of potential adverse health effects on Mediterranean ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Capanni
- Dept. Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain; Dept. Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy.
| | - Juan Muñoz-Arnanz
- Dept. Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Letizia Marsili
- Dept. Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - M Cristina Fossi
- Dept. Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, via P. A. Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Begoña Jiménez
- Dept. Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry (IQOG-CSIC), Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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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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Duncan EM, Arrowsmith J, Bain C, Broderick AC, Lee J, Metcalfe K, Pikesley SK, Snape RTE, van Sebille E, Godley BJ. The true depth of the Mediterranean plastic problem: Extreme microplastic pollution on marine turtle nesting beaches in Cyprus. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 136:334-340. [PMID: 30509815 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We sampled 17 nesting sites for loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Cyprus. Microplastics (<5 mm) were found at all locations and depths, with particularly high abundance in superficial sand. The top 2 cm of sand presented grand mean ± SD particle counts of 45,497 ± 11,456 particles m-3 (range 637-131,939 particles m-3). The most polluted beaches were among the worst thus far recorded, presenting levels approaching those previously recorded in Guangdong, South China. Microplastics decreased with increasing sand depth but were present down to turtle nest depths of 60 cm (mean 5,325 ± 3,663 particles m-3. Composition varied among beaches but hard fragments (46.5 ± 3.5%) and pre-production nurdles (47.8 ± 4.5%) comprised most categorised pieces. Particle drifter analysis hindcast for 365 days indicated that most plastic likely originated from the eastern Mediterranean basin. Worsening microplastic abundance could result in anthropogenically altered life history parameters such as hatching success and sex ratios in marine turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Duncan
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK; Marine Ecology and Biodiversity, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, UK
| | - Jessica Arrowsmith
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Charlotte Bain
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Annette C Broderick
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Jonathon Lee
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Kristian Metcalfe
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Stephen K Pikesley
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK
| | - Robin T E Snape
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK; Society for Protection of Turtles, PK 42, Mersin 10, Turkey
| | - Erik van Sebille
- Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| | - Brendan J Godley
- Marine Turtle Research Group, Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, UK.
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Casale P, Broderick AC, Camiñas JA, Cardona L, Carreras C, Demetropoulos A, Fuller WJ, Godley BJ, Hochscheid S, Kaska Y, Lazar B, Margaritoulis D, Panagopoulou A, Rees AF, Tomás J, Türkozan O. Mediterranean sea turtles: current knowledge and priorities for conservation and research. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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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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Cammilleri G, Calvaruso E, Pantano L, Cascio GL, Randisi B, Macaluso A, Vazzana M, Caracappa G, Giangrosso G, Vella A, Ferrantelli V. Survey on the presence of non-dioxine-like PCBs (NDL-PCBs) in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded in south Mediterranean coasts (Sicily, Southern Italy). ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2017; 36:2997-3002. [PMID: 28544014 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 04/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A total of 71 loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the coasts of Sicily (Southern Italy) were examined for non-dioxine like polychlorinated biphenyl (NDL-PCB) levels in muscle and adipose tissue by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method. The results revealed 6 high-indicator congener (∑6 PCBIND ) levels in 45% of the loggerhead turtles examined, with mean values of 980.39 ± 2508.39 ng/g wet weight in adipose tissue and 102.53 ± 238.58 ng/g wet weight in muscle tissue. The hexachloro and heptachloro PCB congeners were the most abundant in both the sample types. The highest NDL-PCB levels were reached in an adipose tissue sample of a loggerhead turtle of 80 kg stranded along the coasts of Termini Imerese (14 183.85 ng/g wet wt). No significant correlation was found between modified Fulton's K values of the loggerhead turtles and PCB contents (S = 47 151, p > 0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were found between sexes (W = 365, p > 0.05). The PCB levels found in the present study were much higher than those found in the literature. The present study is the first report on the existence of NDL-PCBs in loggerhead turtles stranded in Sicilian coasts confirming C. caretta as a valuable indicator of contaminant exposure in the marine environment because of their specific biological and ecological characteristics. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2997-3002. © 2017 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Cammilleri
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri,", Palermo, Italy
| | - Enza Calvaruso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri,", Palermo, Italy
| | - Licia Pantano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri,", Palermo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lo Cascio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri,", Palermo, Italy
| | - Barbara Randisi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri,", Palermo, Italy
| | - Andrea Macaluso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri,", Palermo, Italy
| | - Mirella Vazzana
- Dipartimento STEBICEF, Università degli studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giulia Caracappa
- Sicilian Regional Centre of Turtles and Cetaceans Recovery, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri," Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giangrosso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri,", Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Vella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia "A. Mirri,", Palermo, Italy
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14
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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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15
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Oka K, Kohno S, Ohta Y, Guillette LJ, Iguchi T, Katsu Y. Molecular cloning and characterization of the aryl hydrocarbon receptors and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocators in the American alligator. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2016; 238:13-22. [PMID: 27174749 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2016.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, binds to a variety of chemical compounds including various environmental contaminants such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. This receptor regulates expression of target genes through dimerization with the AHR nuclear translocator (ARNT). Since AHR-ARNT signaling pathways differ among species, characterization of AHR and ARNT is important to assess the effects of environmental contamination and for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the intrinsic function. In this study, we isolated the cDNAs encoding three types of AHR and two types of ARNT from a reptile, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). In vitro reporter gene assays showed that all complexes of alligator AHR-ARNT were able to activate ligand-dependent transcription on a xenobiotic response element. We found that AHR-ARNT complexes had higher sensitivities to a ligand than AHR-ARNT2 complexes. Alligator AHR1B showed the highest sensitivity in transcriptional activation induced by indigo when compared with AHR1A and AHR2. Taken together, our data revealed that all three alligator AHRs and two ARNTs were functional in the AHR signaling pathway with ligand-dependent and isoform-specific transactivations in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Oka
- Graduate School of Life Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Satomi Kohno
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Science Center, Medical University of South Carolina, and Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Yasuhiko Ohta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Koyama, Tottori, Japan
| | - Louis J Guillette
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Science Center, Medical University of South Carolina, and Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Taisen Iguchi
- Okazaki Institute for Integrative Bioscience, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, and Department of Basic Biology, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshinao Katsu
- Graduate School of Life Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
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Roscales JL, Vicente A, Muñoz-Arnanz J, Morales L, Abad E, Aguirre JI, Jiménez B. Influence of trophic ecology on the accumulation of dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in Mediterranean gulls (Larus michahellis and L. audouinii): A three-isotope approach. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 212:307-315. [PMID: 26854700 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.01.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Revised: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The impact of pollution caused by severe anthropogenic pressure in the Mediterranean Sea, an important biodiversity hotspot, requires continuous research efforts. Sources of highly toxic chemicals such as Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are misunderstood in representative Mediterranean species, which limits our capability to establish proper conservation strategies. In the present study, eggs of Audouin's and yellow-legged gulls (Larus audouinii and L. michahellis) were used to investigate the trophic sources, as measured by δ(13)C, δ(15)N, and δ(34)S, of legacy POPs, in particular, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) and non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (no-PCBs), as well as recently-regulated POPs, e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Special attention was paid to the usefulness of rarely-explored δ(34)S ratios in explaining POP exposure in wildlife, and δ(34)S was the isotopic ratio that best explained POP variations among gulls in most cases, thus demonstrating its usefulness for understanding POP exposure in wildlife. Significant relationships between stable isotope signatures and POP concentrations revealed increasing levels of no-PCBs and low halogenated PCDD/Fs and PBDEs in Mediterranean gulls as the consumption of marine resources increases. In contrast, highly chlorinated and brominated congeners appeared to preferentially accumulate in gulls feeding primarily on refuse from dump sites and terrestrial food webs. The use of suitable dietary tracers in the study of POPs in yellow-legged gulls revealed the importance of dump sites as a source of POPs in Mediterranean seabirds, which has not previously been reported. In contrast, the preferential accumulation through marine food webs of low chlorinated PCCD/Fs and no-PCBs, which show the highest toxic equivalents factors (TEFs), led to a significantly greater toxicological concern in Audouin's as compared to yellow-legged gulls. Audouin's gull exposure to POPs appears primarily related to the pelagic food webs commonly exploited by fisheries, highlighting the need for further research given the potential impact on human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L Roscales
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alba Vicente
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Muñoz-Arnanz
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Morales
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esteban Abad
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose I Aguirre
- Department of Zoology and Physic Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, University Complutense of Madrid, José Antonio Novais 2, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Jiménez
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, IQOG-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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17
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Ruiz-Suárez N, Camacho M, Boada LD, Henríquez-Hernández LA, Rial C, Valerón PF, Zumbado M, González MA, Luzardo OP. The assessment of daily dietary intake reveals the existence of a different pattern of bioaccumulation of chlorinated pollutants between domestic dogs and cats. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 530-531:45-52. [PMID: 26026408 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/15/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Pet dogs and cats have been proposed as sentinel species to assess environmental contamination and human exposure to a variety of pollutants, including POPs. However, some authors have reported that dogs but not cats exhibit intriguingly low levels of some of the most commonly detected POPs, such as DDT and its metabolites. This research was designed to explore these differences between dogs and cats. Thus, we first determined the concentrations of 53 persistent and semi-persistent pollutants (16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 18 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 19 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)) in samples of the most consumed brands of commercial feed for dogs and cats, and we calculated the daily dietary intake of these pollutants in both species. Higher levels of pollutants were found in dog food and our results showed that the median values of intake were about twice higher in dogs than in cats for all the three groups of pollutants (ΣPAHs: 274.8 vs. 141.8; ΣOCPs: 233.1 vs. 83; ΣPCBs: 101.8 vs. 43.8 (ng/kg bw/day); respectively). Additionally, we determined the plasma levels of the same pollutants in 42 and 35 pet dogs and cats, respectively. All these animals lived indoors and were fed on the commercial brands of feed analyzed. As expected (considering the intake), the plasma levels of PAHs were higher in dogs than in cats. However, for organochlorines (OCPs and PCBs) the plasma levels were much higher in cats than in dogs (as much as 23 times higher for DDTs), in spite of the higher intake in dogs. This reveals a lower capacity of bioaccumulation of some pollutants in dogs, which is probably related with higher metabolizing capabilities in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norberto Ruiz-Suárez
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - María Camacho
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Luis D Boada
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Luis A Henríquez-Hernández
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Cristian Rial
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Pilar F Valerón
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Manuel Zumbado
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Maira Almeida González
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Octavio P Luzardo
- Toxicology Unit, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
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Bucchia M, Camacho M, Santos MRD, Boada LD, Roncada P, Mateo R, Ortiz-Santaliestra ME, Rodríguez-Estival J, Zumbado M, Orós J, Henríquez-Hernández LA, García-Álvarez N, Luzardo OP. Plasma levels of pollutants are much higher in loggerhead turtle populations from the Adriatic Sea than in those from open waters (Eastern Atlantic Ocean). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 523:161-169. [PMID: 25863507 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/11/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In this paper we determined the levels of 63 environmental contaminants, including organic (PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and PAHs) and inorganic (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg and Zn) compounds in the blood of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from two comparable populations that inhabit distinct geographic areas: the Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean basin) and the Canary Islands (Eastern Atlantic Ocean). All animals were sampled at the end of a period of rehabilitation in centers of wildlife recovery, before being released back into the wild, so they can be considered to be in good health condition. The dual purpose of this paper is to provide reliable data on the current levels of contamination of this species in these geographic areas, and secondly to compare the results of both populations, as it has been reported that marine biota inhabiting the Mediterranean basin is exposed to much higher pollution levels than that which inhabit in other areas of the planet. According to our results it is found that current levels of contamination by organic compounds are considerably higher in Adriatic turtles than in the Atlantic ones (∑PCBs, 28.45 vs. 1.12ng/ml; ∑OCPs, 1.63 vs. 0.19ng/ml; ∑PAHs, 13.39 vs. 4.91ng/ml; p<0.001 in all cases). This is the first time that levels of PAHs are reported in the Adriatic loggerheads. With respect to inorganic contaminants, although the differences were not as great, the Adriatic turtles appear to have higher levels of some of the most toxic elements such as mercury (5.74 vs. 7.59μg/ml, p<0.01). The results of this study confirm that the concentrations are larger in turtles from the Mediterranean, probably related to the high degree of anthropogenic pressure in this basin, and thus they are more likely to suffer adverse effects related to contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Bucchia
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Foundation Cetacea, Riccione, Italy; Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine-Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - María Camacho
- Laboratory of Applied Chemical Analyses, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Marcelo R D Santos
- Laboratory of Immunobiology, Vila Velha University, Espirito Santo, Brazil
| | - Luis D Boada
- Laboratory of Applied Chemical Analyses, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Paola Roncada
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine-Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy
| | - Rafael Mateo
- Spanish Institute of Game and Wildlife Research (IREC), University of Castilla La Mancha, CSIC, Spain
| | | | - Jaime Rodríguez-Estival
- Spanish Institute of Game and Wildlife Research (IREC), University of Castilla La Mancha, CSIC, Spain
| | - Manuel Zumbado
- Laboratory of Applied Chemical Analyses, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Jorge Orós
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Luis A Henríquez-Hernández
- Laboratory of Applied Chemical Analyses, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Natalia García-Álvarez
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Octavio P Luzardo
- Laboratory of Applied Chemical Analyses, Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
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PCBs and PCDD/PCDFs in fishery products: Occurrence, congener profile and compliance with European Union legislation. Food Chem Toxicol 2014; 74:200-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2014.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 09/25/2014] [Accepted: 09/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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