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PUBLICATIONS

Spatial variation in perfluoroalkyl acids in a population of wild American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) surrounding the Kennedy Space Center (KSC)

Published

Author(s)

John Bowden, Jacqueline T. Bangma, Martin Jones, Russell H. Lowers, Frances Nilsen, Jessica L. Reiner, Thomas R. Rainwater, Stephen E. Somerville, Louis J. Guillette Jr.

Abstract

This study aimed to quantify fourteen perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in the plasma of a population of alligators located at Merritt Island national Wildlife Refuge (MINWR). Male (n = 117) and female (n = 112) alligators were sampled in every month during 2008 and 2009 to determine if any seasonal or spatial trends existed in PFAA burden. PFOS represented the highest plasma burden (median 185 ng/g) and PFHxS the second highest (median 7.96 ng/g). While no significant seasonal trends were seen, unique spatial trends emerged. Many of the measured PFAAs co-varied strongly together, and similar trends were seen for PFOS, PFDA, PFUnA, and PFDoA, as well as for PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFTriA, and PFTA suggesting more than one source of PFAAs at MINWR. Higher levels of PFOS and the PFAAs that co-varied with PFOS were found around sites such as the shuttle landing facility (SLF) fire house and operations & checkout (O&C) retention pond, while higher levels of PFOA and the PFAA that co-varied with PFOA were found around the gun range and the old fire training facility. Since this is the largest sampling of alligators measured for PFAAs to date, sex-based differences and SVL correlations with PFAA burden were also investigated.
Citation
Chemosphere
Volume
166
Pub Type
Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.09.088
Local Download

Keywords

PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, American alligator
Marine science, Environmental health, Environment, Chemistry and Analytical chemistry

Citation

Bowden, J. , Bangma, J. , Jones, M. , Lowers, R. , Nilsen, F. , Reiner, J. , Rainwater, T. , Somerville, S. and Guillette, L. (2017), Spatial variation in perfluoroalkyl acids in a population of wild American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) surrounding the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Chemosphere, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.09.088 (Accessed April 23, 2024)

Created January 26, 2017, Updated February 4, 2020