Metal contents of marine turtle eggs (Chelonia mydas; Lepidochelys olivacea) from the tropical eastern pacific and the implications for human health.
Concentrations of eight elements were measured in Chelonia mydas and Lepidochelys olivacea eggs collected along the Pacific coast of Panama. Manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) concentrations were similar to previous reports of these species from around the world, while lead (Pb) was lower than previous reports. Cd posed the highest health risk to people who regularly eat the eggs, with average consumption rates leading to target hazard quotients (THQ) of up to 0.35 ± 0.15. Our conclusions indicate that current turtle egg consumption in isolated, coastal Pacific communities may pose a health concern for young children, and that youth and young adults should limit their consumption of turtle eggs to reduce their total intake of nonessential metals.
a Department of Biology , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.
David A
DA
Ross
b Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute , Panama City , Panama.
Héctor M
HM
Guzmán
c Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.
Vincent J
VJ
Van Hinsberg
a Department of Biology , McGill University , Montreal , Quebec , Canada.
Catherine
C
Potvin
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D010063:Ovum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010176:Panama; D014426:Turtles
D019216:Metals, Heavy
Green turtle; Panama; cadmium; eggs; olive ridley; toxicology