Assessment trace elements concentrations in tissues in Caspian Pond Turtle (Mauremys caspica) from Golestan province, Iran

•We measured metal levels in different organs of Caspian Pond Turtle.•High levels of Pb, Cd and Cu were found in liver of Caspian Pond Turtle.•High concentrations of Zn were found in muscle and heart.•First study to report metal levels in Caspian Pond Turtle from Iran.

Concentrations of cadmium, lead, zinc, and copper were measured in different organs and tissues of 15 Caspian Pond Turtle (Mauremys caspica) collected from Gharehsu River, Golestan province, Iran in June and July 2012. Mean concentrations (dry weight) of zinc and copper were 66.9 and 6.7 µg g−1 in liver, 147 and 3.4 µg g−1 in heart, 93.2 and 4.9 µg g−1 in shell, and finally 150.7 and 4.5 µg g−1 in muscle, respectively. Mean concentrations of cadmium and lead were 5.8 and 32.4 µg g−1 in liver, 2.9 and 20.9 µg g−1 in heart, 3.5 and 21.5 µg g−1 in shell, and finally 2.5 and 27.5 µg g−1 in muscle, respectively. On average, lead, cadmium, copper and zinc concentrations in the analyzed tissues were much higher than those reported in other freshwater turtle species. In particular, the mean concentrations of lead in liver and muscle of Caspian Pond Turtle was extremely high. To our knowledge, this is the first report into metal accumulation in tissues and organs of Caspian Pond Turtle from of the Gharehsu River in Golestan province, Iran.