Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) contamination to heavy metal (Lead, Cadmium) in Kish Island

The aim of this project is to investigate the heavy metal pollution in Eretmochelys imbricate in Kish island. For this purpose, 20 eggshells, 20 immatures and 4 fetuses also 17 sediment samples have been gathered, was extracted through wet digestion method, and lead and cadmium concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean lead concentration in immatures, fetuses and eggshells was 7.44±0.67, 11.14±1.34 and 12.22± 3.33 mg/kg respectively and mean cadmium concentration was 0.44± 0.14, 0.84± 0.52 and 0.87±0.49 mg/kg respectively. ANOVA and LSD results showed that Lead concentration mean in eggshell and fetus are more than immatures. On the basis of Kruskal wallis results, there is no significant difference between immatures, fetuses and eggshells cadmium concentration mean. Binomial test showed that mean cadmium level is below the 1-2 mg/kg where biological impact would be anticipated and one sample t test confirmed that mean lead level in the eggshell is greater than 4.7 mg/kg, which can cause irreparable damage to the eggshell. Mean lead and cadmium concentration in sediments is 65.69± 7.95 and 2.82± 0.75 mg/kg respectively that is more than standard.