Lead in blood and eggs of the sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, from the Eastern Pacific: Concentration, isotopic composition and maternal transfer

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin Vol. 60; no. 3; pp. 433 - 439
• Main Authors: Páez-Osuna, F., Calderón-Campuzano, M.F., Soto-Jiménez, M.F., Ruelas-Inzunza, J.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amphibia. Reptilia; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biometry; Biomonitor; Eastern Pacific; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Isotopes - blood; Isotopes - metabolism; Isotopic lead; Lead; Lead - blood; Lead - metabolism; Lepidochelys olivacea; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Maternal transfer; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Ovum - metabolism; Pacific Ocean; Seawater - chemistry; Turtles - blood; Turtles - metabolism; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Water Pollutants, Chemical - blood; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Pacific Ocean; ISE, Mexico; Lepidochelys olivacea; Lead; Biomonitor; Isotopic lead; Eastern Pacific; Maternal transfer; Isotopic analysis; Egg; Isotopic composition; Blood; Biological monitoring; Heavy metal; Concentration measurement; Marine environment; Trace element; Aquatic environment; Pollutant; Vertebrata; Mother embryonal transfer; Chelonia; Reptilia; Water pollution
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.10.004

Concentrations of lead were assessed in the sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, from a nesting colony of the Eastern Pacific. Twenty-five female turtles were sampled and a total of 250 eggs were collected during the “arribada” event of the 2005–2006 season. Considering the nesting season, the maternal transfer of lead (Pb) via egg-laying, in terms of metal burden in whole body, was 0.5%. Pb concentrations (in dry weight) in blood (0.95±0.18μgg−1) and egg samples (yolk, 0.80±0.10μg g−1; albumen, 1.08±0.20μg g−1; eggshell, 1.05±0.20μg g−1) were comparable or even lower than those found in other sea turtles. The isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb and 206Pb/208Pb) in blood (1.183±0.0006 and 2.452±0.0006, respectively) were comparable to that of natural Pb-bearing bedrock in Mexico (1.188±0.005 and 2.455±0.008, respectively). According to international norms of Pb, the health of this population and its habitats is acceptable for Pb and corresponds to basic levels of a nearly pristine environment.