Advanced Strategies for Detecting Chemicals and Pollutants Using Sentinel Systems in Nature

A review of advanced strategies used to detect chemicals and pollutants in sentinel species in nature is presented along with recent research to discover chemicals and pollutants in new sentinel species.The health, nutrition, and environment of several sentinel species were monitored by ICP -OES to reflect normal and abnormal levels of trace elements.Levels of trace elements in these species were correlated with trace element concentrations in the surrounding environment (air, soil, and water).We present extensive studies of the metal content in: (a) deer hooves from various counties in Alabama, (b) exotic moth orchid petals, (c) Asian lady beetles, and (d) Monarch butterflies obtained during 2014-2016 from overwintering locations adjacent to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico.Our results demonstrate that metal content in these selected species can be used as sentinels of health, nutrition, and the environment.The usefulness of advanced techniques and strategies for biomonitoring programs is demonstrated.The challenges, limitations, and future directions in the detection of chemicals and pollutants in sentinel species found in nature are presented.