SEM-EDS in rapid prediction of death place of drown-died green sea turtle by comparison of lung bronchial surface and sea water composition (results of a rapid assessment)

Abstract

Background: If a lung is homogenized and a trace element analysis procedure is applied, then, indeed, some trace amounts of some elements could be found with high accuracy and sensitivity. But if there is a question as "Is this human or animal drowned in this water or environment?" some alternative opinions must be taken into account and some alternative methods that satisfy this opinion must be applied. This study was carried out to answer this question on a drowned green sea turtle (Chelomia-Mydas) in a polluted part of eastern Mediterranean Sea. Method: This study includes the scanning electron microscope electron dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis of soil samples which were collected from the polluted area and the residues of 6 different ground water samples. Residues of a seawater sample which were collected from the highly polluted part of the sea and the residues on the drowned turtle lung bronchial surface, were detected by SEM, analyzed by EDS and the elemental compositions of both samples were compared. Results: As a predictive parameter of pollution of chromium contents of seawater from the front of a soda chrome factory and lung bronchial surface. residues were found to be nearly in the same amount. Other results from the soil and underground water samples showed that the environment of the soda chronic factory have been dramatically polluted. Conclusion: One forensically can say that this turtle has been drowned in this highly polluted region of the sea.