<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>332910</docID> <postdate>2024-11-12 11:52:30</postdate> <headline>Turtle shell shock as chemicals pose population risk</headline> <body><p><img class=" wp-image-332911" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241112152033688098-original-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="899" height="674" /></p> <caption>Scientists have drawn a link between forever chemicals and negative health impacts on turtles. (Supplied by Csiro/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Savannah Meacham</b> in Brisbane</span></p> <p><strong>Forever chemicals could cause a population collapse in freshwater turtles after scientists observed serious health impacts as a result of exposure to the toxins.</strong></p> <p>Scientists have found that PFAS - known as forever chemicals - can cause deadly conditions, birth defects and population decline in adult turtles and their hatchlings.</p> <p>Forever chemicals exist in a range of consumer, industrial and commercial products such as non-stick food packaging and cookware.</p> <p>The substance can leach into soils and groundwater and does not fully break down naturally, sparking the name "forever chemicals".</p> <p>Over three years, 350 freshwater turtles were captured, measured, tagged and released to analyse the impacts of forever chemicals in the water.</p> <p>Scientists found turtles had forever chemical concentrations 30 times higher in their blood and organs when existing in highly contaminated water compared to control areas with low levels.</p> <p>"When we looked at the population, we found that there was a lack of juveniles at the more contaminated site," said Suzanne Vardy, principal scientist at Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.</p> <p>"Our models predicted that over time, these impacts could result in a population collapse."</p> <p>CSIRO senior research scientist David Beale said exposures to high concentrations of forever chemicals impacted metabolic processes in the turtles, increasing the risk of deadly gout.</p> <p>Turtle eggs had altered ratios of essential minerals and hatchlings suffered a high rate of defects in their shells.</p> <p>These findings were made by using a technique to assess the thousands of molecules in an organism to understand how it responds to a contaminant.</p> <p>Dr Beale said the process was similar to when humans go to a general practitioner for a blood test that reveals biochemical markers identifying current health and future indicators.</p> <p>"We're applying the same approach to wildlife, doing a deep analysis on thousands of biochemical molecules, proteins, and lipids to understand the trajectory of their health in these contaminated environments," he said.</p> <p>By using this approach, scientists can draw a link between forever chemicals and health impacts on animals.</p> <p>It could be used to assess other wildlife and the impacts of forever chemicals.</p> <p>The research has been published in Science Direct.</p> </body>