ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Trace Elements Accumulation
and Maternal Transfer in Critically Endangered
Sea Turtle, Eretmochelys Imbricata
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1
Department of Environmental Engineering, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran
2
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Submission date: 2023-07-21
Final revision date: 2023-11-03
Acceptance date: 2023-12-25
Online publication date: 2024-04-12
Publication date: 2024-04-18
Corresponding author
Abdolrahim Pazira
Department of Environmental Engineering, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran
Majid Askari-Hesni
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(4):3555-3566
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ABSTRACT
In this study, concentrations of Fe, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Cu in blood and muscle samples
and maternal transfer of these elements to eggs and hatchlings were investigated for hawksbill turtles
on Ommolgorm, Nakhiloo, and Kharko Islands from the Persian Gulf. The results indicate a significant
difference (p≤0.05) between the accumulations of the elements between the rookeries. On three islands,
the highest and lowest concentrations of Fe were observed in the yolk and albumin, respectively.
The highest concentrations of Zn were found in yolk and maternal muscle from Ommolgorm and
Nakhiloo islands, and the lowest concentration of Zn was found in hatchling and abnormal albumin
at Kharko Island. The highest amount of As was present in maternal blood, and the lowest was
in an abnormal egg on three islands. The highest amount of Hg was in maternal blood and muscle,
and the lowest was in normal and abnormal eggs. The highest Pb concentration was in yolk and the
lowest was in maternal muscle and blood in Ommolgorm and Nakhiloo Island; however, at Kharko
Island, the highest and lowest concentrations were in yolk and normal albumin, respectively.
Cd and Cu were ND in the most tissues. Fe, As, Hg, and Pb were higher than Cd and Cu in the maternal
blood. The accumulation of heavy metals in the yolk, blood, and hatchling was higher than in other
tissues. The accumulation of some elements in samples from Kharko Island was higher than on the
other two islands. Based on the results, a significant relationship was found among the concentrations
of elements in the maternal blood, yolk, and hatchling tissue. Our results showed a positive correlation
between the concentrations in the maternal blood and yolk and hatchling tissue, which confirms
maternal transfer of the elements.