Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Environmental research
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41043507/ |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Table of Contents:
- Evaluation of emerging contaminants and biochemical parameters in the blood plasma of wild American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). Umeki, Yu Nolen, Rayna Hala, David Petersen, Lene H Alligators and Crocodiles Animals Water Pollutants, Chemical Environmental Monitoring Louisiana Female Male Pollution by pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals has received increased attention due to their environmental persistence and ecotoxicity as emerging contaminants (ECs). American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) are top predators in the coastal aquatic ecosystems of the Gulf of Mexico and are a sentinel species for ecosystem health due to their longevity and high trophic position. However, knowledge on the extent of EC exposure and likely health impacts on alligators is scarce. This study evaluated select ECs and blood biochemistry parameters in alligator plasma opportunistically sampled at the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in southwest Louisiana. The analysis showed the prominent occurrence of 6 ECs in the plasma: amphetamine (AMP), atenolol (ATN), ketoprofen (KTP), naproxen (NPR), nicotine (NCT), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). AMP and PFOS were most prevalently detected in the plasma samples (95 % and 100 % detection frequency, respectively), and exhibited the highest concentrations (mean ± SEM; AMP: 7.05 ± 3.02 ng/mL, PFOS: 5.95 ± 0.57 ng/mL). The detection of the other ECs ranged from 46 to 69 % with mean concentrations approximately an order of magnitude lower than that of PFOS or AMP. While the biochemistry parameters were all within physiologically acceptable ranges, partial redundancy and correlation analyses suggested positive correlations between the total number of detected pharmaceuticals, ATN, and PFOS, with biochemical parameters associated with liver, kidney, and muscle injury; and endocrine disruption. This study reports on the exposure of alligators to ECs and identifies likely biomarkers of exposure and adverse effects.