Heavy metals (Cd, Cu,Zn, Pb and Hg) monitoring in the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) egg from the northern coast of Oman Sea

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) has been a species of global concern for decades. In this study, heavy metals ((Hg,Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) were measured three egg fraction from green sea turtle (C. mydas) nesting on the northern coast of oman sea. There are no significant differences between concentrations of heavy metals in eggs laid at different times. Low concentrations of heavy metals support the information about green sea turtles’ food resources being from the low levels of the food chain. Further research is required concerning the effects of heavy metals on green sea turtles, especially on the extent that they influence fetal development of these turtles. Moreover, studies must be conducted on hatch rates because environmental contaminants are maternally transmitted.

Keywords:

Chelonia mydas , heavy metals , egg