Publication Date
1-1-2021
Journal
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
DOI
10.1002/etc.4911
PMID
33103806
PMCID
PMC8452040
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
9-20-2021
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Animals, Animals, Wild, Hawaii, Selenium, Trace Elements, Turtles, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Marine turtle, reptile, aquarium, Hawaii, captive, heavy metals
Abstract
Sea turtles are exposed to trace elements through water, sediment, and food. Exposure to these elements has been shown to decrease immune function, impair growth, and decrease reproductive output in wildlife. This study compares trace element concentrations in green turtles in captivity at Sea Life Park Hawaii (n = 6) to wild green turtles in Kapoho Bay, HI (n = 5 to 7). Blood and scute samples were collected and analyzed for eleven elements via inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Selenium was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the blood of captive turtles compared to wild turtles, while V, Ni, and Pb were significantly greater in the blood of wild turtles. In scute, V, Cu, Se, and Cr were significantly greater in captive turtles, while As was significantly greater in wild turtles. Pelleted food fed to the captive turtles and representative samples of the wild turtle diet were analyzed via ICP-MS to calculate trophic transfer factors and daily intake values. Wild turtles had greater estimated daily intake than captive turtles for all elements except Cu and Se. Because captive turtles are fed a diet very different from their wild counterparts, captive turtles do not represent control or reference samples for chemical exposure studies in wild turtles. No toxic thresholds are known for sea turtles, but rehabilitation and managed care facilities should monitor sea turtle elemental concentrations to ensure the animals’ health.
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Animals Commons, Cardiology Commons, Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Environmental Public Health Commons, Medical Toxicology Commons
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