A systematic review of the impact of chemical pollution on sea turtles: Insights from biomarkers of aquatic contamination.

Chemical anthropogenic contaminants in the marine environment pose a substantial threat to sea turtles. The current systematic review quantified the published literature on biomarkers of aquatic contamination in sea turtles. It examined the exposure and potential impacts of pollution at biochemical, molecular, and cellular levels, as indicated by these biomarkers. Eighty-seven primary peer-reviewed papers were included, most of which were published from 2013 onwards. Most studies focused on the species Chelonia mydas (n = 43 papers) and Caretta caretta (n = 36) and used blood samples for biomarker (n = 54) and chemical (n = 38) analyses. Chemical analyses were assessed alongside biomarker analyses in most studies (n = 71). Some studies indicated possible damage to the DNA, cells, oxidative balance, and reproduction of sea turtles associated with chemical contaminants as metals, emerging, and mixtures of organic pollutants. Research gaps and recommendations for future studies were addressed to help understand the toxicity of chemical pollutants in sea turtles. The purpose of this review is to contribute for supporting actions to mitigate the threats posed by pollution to these protected species, as well as to plan new studies in this research field for both conservation and biomonitoring purposes.