American alligators living in North Carolina’s Cape Fear River had elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their blood and associated signs of immune dysfunction, according to an NIEHS-funded study. The findings suggest that American alligators could help scientists understand the consequences of long-term exposure to PFAS mixtures.
Guillette TC, Jackson TW, Guillette M, McCord J, Belcher SM. (2022). Blood concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are associated with autoimmune-like effects in American alligators from Wilmington, North Carolina. Front Toxicol 4:1010185. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2022.1010185