Concentrations of trace elements in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) from Florida, USA.
Concentrations of 28 trace elements (Li, Mg, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Cs, Tl, Hg, Pb, and Bi) in the livers of juvenile and adult American alligators inhabiting two central Florida lakes, Lake Apopka (LA), and Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge (LW) and one lagoon population located in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR; NASA), were determined. In juveniles from MINWR, concentrations of nine elements (Li, Fe, Ni, Sr, In, Sb, Hg, Pb and Bi) were significantly higher, whereas six elements (V, Fe, As, Sr, Hg and Bi) were elevated in adults (p<0.05) obtained from MINWR. Significant enrichment of some trace elements in adults, relative to juveniles, was observed at all three sampling areas. Specifically, Fe, Pb and Hg were significantly elevated in adults when compared to juveniles, suggesting age-dependent accumulation of these elements. Further, As, Se and Sn showed the same trend but only in animals collected from MINWR. Mean Fe concentrations in the livers of adults from LA, LW and MINWR were 1770 μg g(-1) DW, 3690 μg g(-1) DW and 5250 μg g(-1) DW, respectively. More than half of the adult specimens from LW and MINWR exhibited elevated hepatic Fe concentrations that exceed the threshold value for toxic effects in donkey, red deer and human. These results prompted us to express our concern on possible exposure and health effects in American alligators by some trace elements derived from NASA activities.
Faculty of Regional Environment, Tottori University, Japan; Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan.
Sawako
S
Horai
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan.
Takaaki
T
Itai
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan.
Takako
T
Noguchi
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan.
Yusuke
Y
Yasuda
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan.
Haruki
H
Adachi
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan.
Yuika
Y
Hyobu
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan.
Adi S
AS
Riyadi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of South Carolina, USA.
Ashley S P
AS
Boggs
Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, USA; Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, USA; Innomedic Health Applications, Mail code IHA-300, Kennedy Space Center, USA.
Russell
R
Lowers
Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, USA; Hollings Marine Laboratory, Charleston, USA; Innomedic Health Applications, Mail code IHA-300, Kennedy Space Center, USA.
Louis J
LJ
Guillette
Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Japan. Electronic address: shinsuke@ehime-u.agr.ac.jp.
Shinsuke
S
Tanabe
D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D060106:Lakes; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*
D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007501:Iron
American alligator; Contamination status; Iron toxicity; NASA activity; Trace elements