Superfund Research Program

September 2025

Paper of the Month

Alligators in North Carolina carry high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to a study supported in part by SRP.

The research team, including the North Carolina State University and Texas A&M University SRP centers, collected PFAS data from alligators in the lower Cape Fear River in North Carolina. Using nontargeted analysis, the team detected 46 PFAS in alligator blood. They characterized the structures of 12 PFAS, including two previously unknown compounds.

According to the authors, future work should monitor these compounds and assess their toxicity and potential to bioaccumulate.

To learn more, see the NIEHS Environmental Factor Newsletter.