Lead in blood and eggs of the sea turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, from the Eastern Pacific: concentration, isotopic composition and maternal transfer.
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+/-0.18microgg(-1)) and egg samples (yolk, 0.80+/-0.10microg g(-1); albumen, 1.08+/-0.20microg g(-1); eggshell, 1.05+/-0.20microg g(-1)) were comparable or even lower than those found in other sea turtles. The isotope ratios ((206)Pb/(207)Pb and (206)Pb/(208)Pb) 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.
Páez-Osuna
F
F
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, P.O. Box 811, Mazatlán 82040, Sinaloa, Mexico. paezos@ola.icmyl.unam.mx
Calderón-Campuzano
M F
MF
Soto-Jiménez
M F
MF
Ruelas-Inzunza
J R
JR
D000818:Animals; D001699:Biometry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D007554:Isotopes / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
D007554:Isotopes; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead