Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators
Toxic trace element exposure occurs through release of the ubiquitous and naturally occurring elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). The unique environmental conditions of the wetland ecosystems along the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States lead to the accumul...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Environment International |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018329489 |
| _version_ | 1818903519925633024 |
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| author | Frances M. Nilsen John A. Bowden Thomas R. Rainwater Arnold M. Brunell Brittany L. Kassim Phil M. Wilkinson Louis J. Guillette, Jr Stephen E. Long Tracey B. Schock |
| author_facet | Frances M. Nilsen John A. Bowden Thomas R. Rainwater Arnold M. Brunell Brittany L. Kassim Phil M. Wilkinson Louis J. Guillette, Jr Stephen E. Long Tracey B. Schock |
| author_sort | Frances M. Nilsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Toxic trace element exposure occurs through release of the ubiquitous and naturally occurring elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). The unique environmental conditions of the wetland ecosystems along the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States lead to the accumulation of Hg which is greater than in most other ecosystems in the country. There are also point sources of As, Cd, and Pb in this region. To effectively monitor trace element concentrations, and consequently the potential human exposure, accessible local sentinel species are needed. In this study, concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Hg and six other trace elements (Al, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo) were examined in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from seven wetland sites in South Carolina and Florida and assessed for their utility as a sentinel species for human trace element exposure. Alligators were chosen as a potential sentinel as they share a common exposure with the local human population through their aquatic diet, and they are directly consumed commercially and through recreation hunting in this region. Sex was significantly related to the concentration of Zn, Mo, and Al, but not As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, or Cu. Site specific differences in element concentrations were observed for As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, Zn, and Mo. Size/age was significantly related to the element Hg and Pb concentrations observed. The observed concentration ranges for the four toxic elements, As (6–156 ng/g), Cd (0.3–1.3 ng/g), Pb (3–4872 ng/g), and Hg (39–2765 ng/g), were comparable to those previously reported in diverse human populations. In this region alligators are hunted recreationally and consumed by the local community, making them a vehicle of direct human toxic element exposure. We propose that the similarity in As, Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations between alligators observed in this study and humans underscores how alligators can serve as a useful sentinel species for toxic element exposure. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T20:52:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-283ff2bc5f2e47ffb54d0f55306bb00f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0160-4120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T20:52:50Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environment International |
| spelling | doaj.art-283ff2bc5f2e47ffb54d0f55306bb00f2022-12-21T20:06:03ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202019-07-01128324334Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligatorsFrances M. Nilsen0John A. Bowden1Thomas R. Rainwater2Arnold M. Brunell3Brittany L. Kassim4Phil M. Wilkinson5Louis J. Guillette, Jr6Stephen E. Long7Tracey B. Schock8National Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USA; Medical University of South Carolina, Marine Bio-medicine and Environmental Science Program, Charleston, SC, USA; Corresponding author at: ORISE Post-doctoral Fellow at the US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.National Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USA; Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USABaruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, P.O. Box 596, Georgetown, SC, USA; Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, 1 Yawkey Way South, Georgetown, SC, USAFlorida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Eustis, FL, USANational Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USABaruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, P.O. Box 596, Georgetown, SC, USAMedical University of South Carolina, Marine Bio-medicine and Environmental Science Program, Charleston, SC, USANational Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USANational Institute of Standards and Technology, Chemical Sciences Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, SC, USAToxic trace element exposure occurs through release of the ubiquitous and naturally occurring elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg). The unique environmental conditions of the wetland ecosystems along the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States lead to the accumulation of Hg which is greater than in most other ecosystems in the country. There are also point sources of As, Cd, and Pb in this region. To effectively monitor trace element concentrations, and consequently the potential human exposure, accessible local sentinel species are needed. In this study, concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, Hg and six other trace elements (Al, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo) were examined in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from seven wetland sites in South Carolina and Florida and assessed for their utility as a sentinel species for human trace element exposure. Alligators were chosen as a potential sentinel as they share a common exposure with the local human population through their aquatic diet, and they are directly consumed commercially and through recreation hunting in this region. Sex was significantly related to the concentration of Zn, Mo, and Al, but not As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, or Cu. Site specific differences in element concentrations were observed for As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, Zn, and Mo. Size/age was significantly related to the element Hg and Pb concentrations observed. The observed concentration ranges for the four toxic elements, As (6–156 ng/g), Cd (0.3–1.3 ng/g), Pb (3–4872 ng/g), and Hg (39–2765 ng/g), were comparable to those previously reported in diverse human populations. In this region alligators are hunted recreationally and consumed by the local community, making them a vehicle of direct human toxic element exposure. We propose that the similarity in As, Cd, Pb, and Hg concentrations between alligators observed in this study and humans underscores how alligators can serve as a useful sentinel species for toxic element exposure.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018329489 |
| spellingShingle | Frances M. Nilsen John A. Bowden Thomas R. Rainwater Arnold M. Brunell Brittany L. Kassim Phil M. Wilkinson Louis J. Guillette, Jr Stephen E. Long Tracey B. Schock Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators Environment International |
| title | Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators |
| title_full | Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators |
| title_fullStr | Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators |
| title_short | Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators |
| title_sort | examining toxic trace element exposure in american alligators |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018329489 |
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