RESUMO
Mercury concentrations were assessed in the sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea from a nesting colony of Oaxaca, Mexico; 25 female turtles were sampled, a total of 250 eggs were collected during the season 2005-2006. Higher concentrations were found in yolk fraction, while in blood and albumen mean levels were below of 0.0010µg g(-1) dry wt. On the basis of one nesting season, the maternal transfer of Hg via eggs-laying was estimated in 2.0±1.1%. According to international norms, the health of this population and its habitats is acceptable for Hg and corresponds to baseline levels of a nearly pristine environment.
Assuntos
Mercúrio/metabolismo , Óvulo/metabolismo , Tartarugas/metabolismo , Poluentes Químicos da Água/metabolismo , Animais , Monitoramento Ambiental , Feminino , Mercúrio/sangue , México , Poluentes Químicos da Água/sangue , Poluição Química da Água/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
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.