Ocorrência de Pesticidas Organoclorados e Bifenilos Policlorados em tartarugas marinhas Chelonia mydas / Occurrence of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in sea turtles Chelonia mydas

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2009

RESUMO

Organochlorine compounds, such as pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are persistent, toxics and widely distributed due to the atmospheric transport and oceanic currents. Few studies have reported the occurrence of these compounds in turtles, but none from the Brazilian Coast. Chelonia mydas is the biggest marine turtle with hard carapace that extends throughout tropical and subtropical seas around the world. The present study aims to assess the concentrations of organochlorines in the C. mydas as well as any relationship with morphological or physiological variations. Fat, liver and kidney samples were collected from 27 juvenile specimens found dead in Ubatuba Coast, São Paulo State. Organochlorine were extracted with organic solvents and the extracts were purified with concentrated acid. PCBs and pesticides were identified and quantified using a gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer and with electron capture detector, respectively. Pesticides were not detected in any sample analyzed. PCBs concentrations in wet weight were: <1.6 48.9 ng.g-1 in fat, <1.6 17.4 ng.g-1 in liver and <1.6 9.2 ng.g-1 in kidney. The low levels detected are related, especially, to the feeding habits of the species since C. mydas is mainly herbivore, and to a non industrialized sampling area.

ASSUNTO(S)

chelonia mydas pesticidas organiclorados chelonia mydas organochlorine pesticides atlântico sul polychlorinated bifelínos policlorados

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