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Elements and Compounds01:27

Elements and Compounds

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Pure substances consist of only one type of matter. A pure substance can be an element or a compound. An element consists of only one type of atom, while a compound consists of two or more types of atoms held together by a chemical bond.
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The periodic table arranges atoms based on increasing atomic number so that elements with the same chemical properties recur periodically. When their electron configurations are added to the table, a periodic recurrence of similar electron configurations in the outer shells of these elements is observed. Because they are in the outer shells of an atom, valence electrons play the most important role in chemical reactions. The outer electrons have the highest energy of the electrons in an atom...
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A chemical symbol is an abbreviation used to indicate an element or an atom of an element. For example, the symbol for mercury is Hg. The same symbol is used to indicate one atom of mercury (microscopic domain) or to label a container of many atoms of the element mercury (macroscopic domain).
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Examining toxic trace element exposure in American alligators.

Frances M Nilsen1, John A Bowden2, Thomas R Rainwater3

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American alligators can serve as sentinels for toxic trace element exposure in southeastern US wetlands. Their arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury levels mirror human concentrations, indicating potential health risks for consumers.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Toxicology
  • Ecology

Background:

  • Wetland ecosystems on the southeastern Atlantic coast have high mercury accumulation.
  • Point sources of arsenic, cadmium, and lead also exist in this region.
  • Monitoring trace element exposure requires accessible local sentinel species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess American alligators as sentinel species for human exposure to toxic trace elements.
  • To measure concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and other elements in alligators.
  • To determine if alligator trace element levels correlate with human exposure risks.

Main Methods:

  • Collected and analyzed trace element concentrations (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, Al, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo) in American alligators from seven wetland sites.
  • Examined relationships between element concentrations and alligator sex, size/age, and site.
  • Compared alligator trace element ranges to those reported in human populations.

Main Results:

  • Site-specific differences were observed for As, Pb, Hg, Cd, Se, Zn, and Mo.
  • Sex influenced Zn, Mo, and Al concentrations; size/age affected Hg and Pb.
  • Observed ranges for As, Cd, Pb, and Hg in alligators were comparable to human levels.

Conclusions:

  • American alligators can serve as a useful sentinel species for monitoring toxic element exposure in this region.
  • Alligators provide a direct exposure pathway to humans through consumption.
  • The similarity in trace element levels between alligators and humans highlights potential risks.