Persistent organic pollutants and stable isotopes in the liver of Chelonia mydas stranded on the southeastern Brazilian coast.

ABSTRACT

Among the various pollutants released into the environment, there are persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Chelonia mydas are one of the species that can be exposed to these pollutants and it is classified in the IUCN Red List as "endangered". The present study evaluated the occurrence of POPs in 49liver tissue samples of C. mydas juveniles collected on the southeastern Brazilian coast. Furthermore, the concentrations were correlated with carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratio, biometrics, and ecological factors. The main POPs found were Æ´-HCH and PCBs. Overall, the concentrations found were low and there were no significant correlations among POPs, isotopic ratios, size and weight, which may be related to the fact that the studied individuals are juveniles and occupy similar trophic positions despite the individual variations found. Despite the low concentrations, the presence of POPs, mainly PCBs, in the sea turtles' liver indicates their exposure to these compounds.