Evaluation of the metallic contamination degree in green turtle’s feeding area Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso, Cuba

The present work evaluates the contamination level by metallic elements in the marine sediments of Lanzanillo-Pajonal-Fragoso Wildlife Refuge, Villa Clara province, Cuba. Eight sampling stations were selected and the levels of Cr were quantified by X-Ray Fluorescence and Zn, Cu, Cd, Fe, Pb, Ni, Mn and Co by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The chemical pre-treatment of the samples was carried out following the modified ISO 11466 standard method and some validation parameters of the analytical technique were evaluated, showed the accuracy and feasibility of the method. To evaluate the study area contamination the International Sediment Quality Guide of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and four environmental contamination indexes were used: two enrichment indexes (the enrichment factor and the geoaccumulation index), an ecological risk index (the average ratio of moderate risk effects), and a contamination index (the modified degree of contamination). The results showed that the elements representing the greatest risk are Ni and Cr, since they exceed the concentration that causes Moderate Biological Effects. According to the evaluated indexes, it can be concluded that there is a presence of anthropogenic contamination in the protected area that may be affecting the turtle’s health due to the stress that they cause in them. The site of highest risk was Jácate and the element that more contribute to the metallic contamination is Cr, although significant values were obtained for Ni, Co and Fe. Received: 07.02.2022 Accepted: 02.02.2023 Editor: Ana Sanz Ochotorena