Review of petroleum toxicity in marine reptiles

Abstract

Worldwide petroleum exploration and transportation continue to impact the health of the marine environment through both catastrophic and chronic spillage. Of the impacted fauna, marine reptiles are often overlooked. While marine reptiles are sensitive to xenobiotics, there is a paucity of petroleum toxicity data for these specialized fauna in peer reviewed literature. Here we review the known impacts of petroleum spillage to marine reptiles, specifically to marine turtles and iguanas with an emphasis on physiology and fitness related toxicological effects. Secondly, we recommend standardized toxicity testing on surrogate species to elucidate the mechanisms by which petroleum related mortalities occur in the field following catastrophic spillage and to better link physiological and fitness related endpoints. Finally, we propose that marine reptiles could serve as sentinel species for marine ecosystem monitoring in the case of petroleum spillage. Comprehensive petroleum toxicity data on marine reptiles is needed in order to serve as a foundation for future research with newer, unconventional crude oils of unknown toxicity such as diluted bitumen.

Superhydrophobic DTMS/rGO-nanocomposites modified polyurethane sponge for efficient oil–water separation

“…The sponge was placed in different pH solutions (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) for 24 h to measure its water contact angle (WCA) change. Similarly, it was immersed in different concentrations of sodium chloride solutions (0-4 wt.%) for 150 min to monitor the WCA change.…”

“…Oil spills and leaks from petrochemical industry and marine machinery have caused great damage to the environment and human society worldwide [1][2][3][4], prompting an urgent need to develop novel techniques for efficiently retrieving oil from oily wastewater. Traditional methods for treating oil pollutants, such as skimmer mechanical extraction, centrifugation, gravity separation, chemical dispersion, and in situ combustion, are often costly and may not be efficient or environmentally friendly enough [5].…”

Potential Effects of Persistent Organic Contaminants on Marine Biota: A Review on Recent Research

“…Aquatic fauna including marine reptiles are susceptible to LMW-PAHs, which are chemical compounds with the tendency to remain in the water and thus be bioavailable for biological uptake [161]. According to a recent review by [161] regarding the impacts of petroleum toxicity in marine reptiles, and specifically marine turtles and iguanas, and focusing on research data related to physiology and fitness toxicological effects, it was stated that these organisms play a key role in the balance of trophic webs due to their ectothermic nature that enables them to have slow metabolisms and therefore makes them sensitive to xenobiotics [161].…”

“…Aquatic fauna including marine reptiles are susceptible to LMW-PAHs, which are chemical compounds with the tendency to remain in the water and thus be bioavailable for biological uptake [161]. According to a recent review by [161] regarding the impacts of petroleum toxicity in marine reptiles, and specifically marine turtles and iguanas, and focusing on research data related to physiology and fitness toxicological effects, it was stated that these organisms play a key role in the balance of trophic webs due to their ectothermic nature that enables them to have slow metabolisms and therefore makes them sensitive to xenobiotics [161]. Multiple routes of exposure have been reported for marine turtles, such as inhalation of air from the sea surface layer that contains vaporized PAHs, while after diving, consumption of contaminated prey (e.g., invertebrates, mollusks) can lead to the bioconcentration of PAH toxicants, therefore Lepidochelys kempii (Kemp's ridleys) and loggerhead turtles are at higher risk of exposure to PAHs than the Chelonia mydas (herbivorous green turtle) [162].…”

Thermal conditions determine lizards’ response to oil contamination in a desert habitat

“…When a sea turtle in an oil-polluted marine habitat reaches the sea surface to breathe, it is covered by the oily substances that float on the water, causing health damage and changes to diving patterns and respiration. 6 Another example is the case of oil pollution on Santa Fe island, which was thought to be contained, but in fact caused a massive 62% local mortality to marine iguanas ( Amblyrhynchus cristatus ) in the year following the event. 7 Much less information is available regarding oil spill events in terrestrial habitats and even less on oil-polluted arid habitats.…”