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

Author(s)

Filippos, Luciana S. ^[1] ; Taniguchi, Satie ^[1] ; Baldassin, Paula ^[2] ; Pires, Thais ^[3] ; Montone, Rosalinda C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, Lab Quim Organ Marinha, Praca Oceanog 191, BR-05508120 S ao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst BW, Prof Suely Brasil Flores 88, BR-28970000 Araruama, RJ - Brazil

^[3] Fundacao Projeto Tamar, Rua Rubens Guelli 134-307, BR-41815135 Salvador, BA - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Marine Pollution Bulletin; v. 167, JUN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

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. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/18348-1 - Multi-User Equipment approved in grant 2015/17763-2: triple quadrupole gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC/MS/MS)
• Grantee: Márcia Caruso Bícego
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program