TY - JOUR
T1 - Levels of trace elements in green turtle eggs collected from Hong Kong
T2 - Evidence of risks due to selenium and nickel
AU - Lam, James C.W.
AU - Tanabe, Shinsuke
AU - Chan, Simon K.F.
AU - Lam, Michael H.W.
AU - Martin, Michael
AU - Lam, Paul K.S.
PY - 2006/12
Y1 - 2006/12
N2 - Concentrations of 22 trace elements were determined in green turtle (Chelonia mydas) eggs collected from Hong Kong. Concentrations of selenium, lead and nickel in these eggs were generally higher than those reported in other studies. The predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC; ng/g wet weight) of Pb (1000), Se (340 and 6000 for the worst-case and best-case scenarios, respectively) and Ni (17) in the green turtle eggs were estimated. Hazard quotients (HQs) estimate that Se (HQs: 0.2-24.5) and Ni (HQs: 4.0-26.4) may pose some risks to the turtles. Our study also found that concentrations of Ag, Se, Zn, Hg and Pb in the shell of the turtle eggs were significantly correlated with levels in the whole egg contents (yolk + albumen). Once the precise relationships of specific elements are established, egg-shell concentrations may be used as a non-lethal, non-invasive, surrogate for predicting whole egg burden of certain contaminants in marine turtles. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
AB - Concentrations of 22 trace elements were determined in green turtle (Chelonia mydas) eggs collected from Hong Kong. Concentrations of selenium, lead and nickel in these eggs were generally higher than those reported in other studies. The predicted no effect concentrations (PNEC; ng/g wet weight) of Pb (1000), Se (340 and 6000 for the worst-case and best-case scenarios, respectively) and Ni (17) in the green turtle eggs were estimated. Hazard quotients (HQs) estimate that Se (HQs: 0.2-24.5) and Ni (HQs: 4.0-26.4) may pose some risks to the turtles. Our study also found that concentrations of Ag, Se, Zn, Hg and Pb in the shell of the turtle eggs were significantly correlated with levels in the whole egg contents (yolk + albumen). Once the precise relationships of specific elements are established, egg-shell concentrations may be used as a non-lethal, non-invasive, surrogate for predicting whole egg burden of certain contaminants in marine turtles. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KW - Ecological risk assessment
KW - Green turtle eggs
KW - Nickel
KW - Selenium
KW - Trace elements
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33748417259&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33748417259&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.02.016
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2006.02.016
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
C2 - 16616401
SN - 0013-9327
VL - 144
SP - 790
EP - 801
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
IS - 3
ER -
