Investigating heavy metal concentrations in sea snakes (Elapidae: Hydrophiinae) as an outcome of oil spill exposure
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This study reports the concentration of heavy metals in the tissues of stranded sea snakes that died as a result of exposure to an oil spill on the eastern coast of Sharjah, UAE. Given the limited occurrence of stranded sea snakes observed along Sharjah's eastern coast outside this spill incident, we are using strandings collected from the nearby Arabian Gulf coast of Sharjah to compare the levels of heavy metals in sea snakes affected by the oil spill against their non-oiled counterparts. The sample comprised 14 Arabian Gulf Coral Reef Sea Snakes (Hydrophis lapemoides ), 6 Yellow-bellied Sea Snakes ( Hydrophis platurus ), and 4 Yellow Sea Snakes ( Hydrophis spiralis ). Overall, our results show significantly higher concentrations of Al, Cd, Pb, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in sea snakes that were mired in oil.
Source: Heliyon
Authors: Fadi Yaghmour, Fatin Samara, Yehya El Sayed, Areej Mohammed, Elisa Maio, Susannah Philip, Jane Budd, Johannes Els
Institution: American University of Sharjah
Language: English
Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,100
OpenAlex ID: W4401438029