A Multi-State Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), Pesticides, and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of the United States.
White-tailed deer across the U.S. show universal PFAS contamination, with all samples containing 26 compounds, indicating widespread systemic exposure.
- Why it matters: Understanding how environmental chemicals and antimicrobial resistance spread through ecosystems is crucial for protecting both wildlife and human health, yet comprehensive nationwide data are lacking.
- What they did: Researchers analyzed 54 deer from 24 states, testing six tissue types for PFAS, pesticides, and AMR genes, revealing pervasive chemical presence and resistance markers.
- The result: Findings demonstrate ubiquitous contamination and resistance genes in deer, highlighting the species' role as an early warning system for ecological and public health risks from chemical pollution.