Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands

Qaim Mehdi; Lauren E. Blackman; Gregory A. Lewbart; Juan Pablo Muñoz Pérez; Daniela Alarcón-Ruales; Diego Páez-Rosas; Joe Aufmuth; John A. Bowden

doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438

Back

Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands

Qaim Mehdi, Lauren E. Blackman, Gregory A. Lewbart, Juan Pablo Muñoz Pérez, Daniela Alarcón-Ruales, Diego Páez-Rosas, Joe Aufmuth and John A. Bowden

Regional Studies in Marine Science, Vol.90, pp.1-8

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438

Abstract

Emerging contaminants

Galápagos archipelago

Marine ecotoxicology

Plasma

Remote locations

Surface water

PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in remote areas due to their persistence and potential long-range transport capabilities. We conducted a survey to explore the distribution of PFAS in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos archipelago. Overall, 8 out of 21 PFAS were detected in 24 surface water samples, with PFOA and PFNA having the highest detection rates (79 % of samples). Plasma samples were obtained from marine iguanas (n = 24), black-striped salemas (n = 6), and Galápagos sea lions (n = 14). Marine iguanas and black-striped salemas had only PFNA and PFTrDA quantified, respectively, whereas Galápagos sea lions exhibited a myriad of long-chain PFAS, with L-PFOS and PFCAs (C9 - C13) showing 100 % detection rates. Our results confirmed the presence of PFAS in the Galápagos archipelago, emphasizing that further research is needed to better understand the impact of these contaminants in suspected pristine and remote ecosystems.

Details

Title: Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands
Authors: Qaim Mehdi - University of Florida
Lauren E. Blackman - University of Florida
Gregory A. Lewbart - Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Juan Pablo Muñoz Pérez - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Daniela Alarcón-Ruales - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Diego Páez-Rosas - Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Joe Aufmuth - University of Florida
John A. Bowden (Corresponding Author) - University of Florida
Publication details: Regional Studies in Marine Science, Vol.90, pp.1-8
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438
ISSN: 2352-4855
Data Availability: Data will be made available on request.
Grant note: This research received support from Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), University of Florida (UF), The University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), and North Carolina State University (NCState). We are also grateful to the following institutions for their generous funding and assistance: The UK Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) (Ref. NE/V005448/1), Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT), Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales (COCIBA). In addition, we thank the University of Florida's (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) for providing Block Grant funding for Qaim Mehdi to pursue his PhD program
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991162644602621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

22 Record Views

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology; Marine & Freshwater Biology

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites