Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) Accumulate Heavy Metals Near a Former Skeet Shooting Range in Kailua, O'ahu, Hawai'i. (7th April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaw, Katherine R.; Balazs, George H.; Jones, T. Todd; Lynch, Harry W.; Liu, Jing; Cobb, George P.; Klein, David M.; Lynch, Jennifer M.
• Is Part Of: Environmental toxicology and chemistry. Volume 42:Number 5(2023)
• Page Start: 1109
• Page End: 1123
• Publication Date: 2023-04-07
• Subjects: Marine turtle -- Reptile -- Lead -- Scute -- Hawai'i; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 615.902
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.5601
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0730-7268

Abstract

Abstract: The present study determined if green sea turtles ( Chelonia mydas ) in Kailua Bay, Oahu, in the Hawaiian Islands have elevated blood and scute lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and antimony (Sb) concentrations resulting from lead deposition at a historic skeet shooting range. Blood and scute samples were collected and analyzed for Pb, As, and Sb via inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. Prey, water, and sediment samples were also analyzed. Turtle samples in Kailua Bay (45) have blood Pb concentrations (328 ± 195 ng/g) greater than a reference population (Howick Group of Islands, 29.2 ± 17.1 ng/g). Compared with other green turtle populations, only turtles in Oman, Brazil, and San Diego, CA have blood Pb concentrations greater than turtles in Kailua Bay. The estimated daily exposure of Pb from algae sources in Kailua Bay (0.12 mg/kg/day) was significantly lower than the no observed adverse effect level (100 mg/kg) of red‐eared slider turtles. However, the chronic effects of Pb on sea turtles is poorly understood and continued monitoring of this population will increase our understanding of the Pb and As loads of sea turtles in Kailua Bay. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1109–1123. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA. Abstract : An estimated 500 000 pounds of lead (Pb) shot was deposited in the sand and surrounding waters by the Honolulu Skeet Club between 1933 and 1956 (Board of Land and Natural Resources, 2012). This has caused an increase in sediment, algae, and sea turtle blood and scute Pb concentrations in Kailua Bay, Hawaii.