Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in plasma of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)

Published

March 1, 2019

Author(s)

Kady Palmer, Jacqueline T. Bangma, Jessica L. Reiner, Robert Bonde, Jeffery Korte, Ashley Russell, John Bowden

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous, synthetic anthropogenic chemicals known to infiltrate and persist in biological systems as a result of their stability and bioaccumulation potential. This study investigated 15 PFAS, including short-chain carboxylic and sulfonic acids, and their presence in a threatened herbivore, the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). Seven of the 15 PFAS examined were detected in manatee plasma. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) (ranging from 0.13 to 166 ng/g ww) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) (ranging from 0.038 to 3.52 ng/g ww) were detected in every manatee plasma sample examined (n = 69), with differing medians across sampling sites in Florida, Crystal River (n = 39), Brevard County (n = 18), Everglades National Park (n = 8), and four samples (n = 4) from Puerto Rico. With an herbivorous diet and long life-span, the manatee provides a new perspective to monitoring PFAS contamination.

Citation

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Issue

140

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

PFAA, PFOS, West Indian manatee, health parameters, cholesterol, Florida, Puerto Rico

Citation

Palmer, K. , Bangma, J. , Reiner, J. , Bonde, R. , Korte, J. , Russell, A. and Bowden, J. (2019), Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in plasma of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), Marine Pollution Bulletin (Accessed October 14, 2025)