Influence of the rehabilitation of injured loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) on their blood levels of environmental organic pollutants and elements

none8Wemonitoredthelevelsof57organicpollutantsand11elementsinthebloodof61livestrandedloggerheadsea turtles atthebeginningand endof therehabilitationperiod with thegoalofevaluating whether recuperationof normalphysiologicalconditionshasaninfluenceonthecirculatinglevelsofthesepollutantsfromtheblood.According to our results, several pollutants (OCPs, PCBs and toxic elements) are mobilized from storage tissues to thebloodinsickturtles,andthisismoreevidentinthesubgroupofcachecticanimals.Weobservedasignificant decrease intheconcentrations ofsomecontaminantsat theend of therehabilitation period, probably dueto redistribution processes. In contrast, an increase in the levels of the essential elements selenium and zinc was observed after a period of correct feeding and supplementation during hospitalization.openMaría Camacho;Jorge Orós;Luis A. Henríquez-Hernández;Pilar F. Valerón;Luis D. Boada;Annalisa Zaccaroni;Manuel Zumbado;Octavio P. LuzardoMaría Camacho;Jorge Orós;Luis A. Henríquez-Hernández;Pilar F. Valerón;Luis D. Boada;Annalisa Zaccaroni;Manuel Zumbado;Octavio P. Luzard