Species-specific distribution of heavy metals in tissues and organs of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) from Japanese coastal waters
H. Sakai et al., Species-specific distribution of heavy metals in tissues and organs of loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) from Japanese coastal waters, MAR POLL B, 40(8), 2000, pp. 701-709
Concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Cd, Co and Hg) were
determined in tissues and organs of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green
turtles (Chelonia mydas) collected from Japanese coastal waters, in order
to elucidate body distribution and to develop a non-lethal monitoring techn
ique using the carapace, A majority of the metal burdens was present in the
muscle, liver, bone and carapace of sea turtles. High Cu concentrations ex
ceeding 10 mu g/g wet wt were observed in the liver of these two turtle spe
cies. Mean Zn concentrations in fat tissues of loggerhead and green turtles
were 94.6 and 51.3 mu g/g wet wt respectively, which were about 10-fold hi
gher than those reported in other marine animals, Concentrations of Mn, Zn
and Hg in the carapace were correlated with whole body burdens, indicating
that the carapace is a useful non-lethal indicator for monitoring heavy met
al levels in the body of the sea turtle. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All
rights reserved.