Mother-embryo transfer of heavy metals in Dermochelys coriacea and effects on hormonal levels

This work reports about the levels of heavy metals in female leatherback turtles and in their eggs and evaluates any potential correlation between blood heavy metals levels and thyroid hormones concentration. No correlation was found between mothers and eggs metals concentration nor between hematic metals and hormonal levels. Exposure levels in leatherbacks seems to be low, and there seems to be no active transfer of metals to the eggs, with the only exception of arsenic and chromium. Thus there seems to be no risk for both adult females and eggs from the exposure to environmental levels of heavy metals. Nevertheless, a certain concern arises for As and Cr, which should be further investigated for their toxic action on embryos.