title: Influence of the rehabilitation of injured loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) on their blood levels of environmental organic pollutants and elements.
abstract: We monitored the levels of 57 organic pollutants and 11 elements in the blood of 61 live stranded loggerhead sea turtles at the beginning and end of the rehabilitation period with the goal of evaluating whether recuperation of normal physiological conditions has an influence on the circulating levels of these pollutants from the blood. According to our results, several pollutants (OCPs, PCBs and toxic elements) are mobilized from storage tissues to the blood in sick turtles, and this is more evident in the subgroup of cachectic animals. We observed a significant decrease in the concentrations of some contaminants at the end of the rehabilitation period, probably due to redistribution processes. In contrast, an increase in the levels of the essential elements selenium and zinc was observed after a period of correct feeding and supplementation during hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain; Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Orós
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Henríquez-Hernández
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Valerón
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Boada
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Research Group on Large Pelagic Vertebrates, Viale Vespucci 2, 47042 Cesenatico, FC, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaccaroni
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain; Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zumbado
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Faculty, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmontana s/n, 35416 Arucas, Las Palmas, Spain; Toxicology Unit, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Plaza Dr. Pasteur s/n, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. Electronic address: operez@dcc.ulpgc.es.
authors.forename: Octavio P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Luzardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000097:blood; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood; D014426:Turtles / Q000097:blood; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Elements; Organochlorine pesticides; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Sea turtles; Wildlife rehabilitation