Exploring the distribution of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands
By Qaim Mehdi, Lauren E. Blackman, Gregory A. Lewbart, and Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez
Reg. Stud. Mar. Sci.
September 8, 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438
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.
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