Determination of heavy metals in blood of nesting Kemp’s Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) at Rancho Nuevo sanctuary, Tamaulipas, Mexico

Abstract

AbstractThe concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids including As, Zn, Cu, Se, Pb, Hg and Cd, were determined in the blood of nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) at Rancho Nuevo sanctuary, Tamaulipas, Mexico during 2018-2020. The sequential concentrations of metals analyzed were Zn> Se> Cu> As> Pb; while Cd and Hg concentrations were below the limits of detection (0.01 µg g−1). No significant differences were observed between the concentrations of metals (p> 0.05) by year, except Se levels, possibly resulting from recorded seasonal differences in turtle size. No relationships among turtle size vs metal concentration were observed. In conclusion, heavy metals concentrations in the blood of nesting Kemp’s ridley turtles may be a reflex of the ecosystem in which the turtles develop, that is, with low bioavailability of metals observed in the trophic webs in the Gulf of Mexico.