Total Arsenic Concentrations in Sea Turtle Tissues from the Mediterranean Coast of Spain

In this work we studied total arsenic concentrations in liver, muscle and kidney of 49 individuals of two sea turtle species (loggerhead sea turtles, n = 45; leatherback turtles, n = 4) stranded in Murcia (South-eastern Spain) coastline between 2009 and 2018. In accordance with the literature, muscle was the tissue with the highest concentrations in both species, followed by liver and kidney. Although differences in arsenic concentrations were not statistically significant between the study species, loggerhead sea turtles showed concentrations two or three times higher than those of leatherback turtles, which we attribute to differences on feeding behavior and habitat preferences. Arsenic concentrations in turtles from this area increase evidence of western Mediterranean Sea as a hotspot for metal pollution. Based on the scarce existing knowledge on arsenic toxicity in sea turtles, those levels found in our study are below those responsible for liver damage.

Automated summary

In this study, total arsenic concentrations were investigated in loggerhead sea turtles and leatherback turtles stranded in Murcia, Spain between 2009 and 2018. The results showed that loggerhead sea turtles had higher concentrations of arsenic compared to leatherback turtles, possibly due to differences in feeding behavior and habitat preferences. The findings suggest that the western Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for metal pollution, with arsenic levels in turtles not reaching those causing liver damage.