{
  "abstract": "Background: Heavy metal contamination is a global concern due to its persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity to ecosystems and human health. The Galápagos Archipelago, with its high endemism and limited industrial activity, provides a unique setting where natural and anthropogenic sources may interact. This review aimed to synthesize evidence on the presence, distribution, sources, and effects of heavy metals in environmental matrices and wildlife in the Galápagos.\n\nMethods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies evaluating heavy metals and metalloids in environmental matrices and terrestrial or marine organisms within the archipelago were included, without restrictions on language or publication year.\n\nResults: Evidence was mainly concentrated in environmental compartments (soils, sediments, water, and fumarolic systems) and wildlife, particularly fish, seabirds, pinnipeds, and invertebrates. The most frequently assessed metals were mercury, cadmium, lead and copper. Cadmium exceeded EFSA maximum levels in all evaluated commercial fish species, posing the highest risk in Caulolatilus affinis . Mercury exceeded EFSA/FDA/Codex limits in Acanthocybium solandri, Pontinus clemensi , and Hyporthodus mystacinus . Furthermore, mercury in Grapsus grapsus from San Cristóbal exceeded the EPA threshold, and was detected in feathers of 8 seabird species, showing higher levels during La Niña upwelling. Lead in Zalophus wollebaeki bone was lower than in Mauritania and Uruguay, which act as relatively unpolluted references. Both natural and localized anthropogenic sources were identified, including agriculture, phosphate fertilizers, and maritime activities.\n\nConclusions: Important gaps persist, particularly in human biomonitoring and integrated surveillance. Future research should adopt a One Health approach to better link environmental contamination with ecological and public health outcomes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL)",
    "Hospital Provincial General Pablo Arturo Suárez, Ministerio de Salud Pública",
    "Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE)",
    "Hospital General del Sur de Quito, Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social",
    "Hospital Básico de Paute, Ministerio de Salud Pública del Ecuador",
    "Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Salud y de la Vida, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador",
    "Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y Bienestar Humano, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica",
    "Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 13,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Jesús Endara-Mina"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Tony Fernando Cepeda-Reza"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Alexandra Mishell Villagómez-López"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Cristopher-Josué Escudero"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Dario Chicaiza"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Jhon Paul Guerrero-González"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Pedro Isaac Torres-Balarezo"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Carlos Astudillo-Abad"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Ricardo Flores-Palomino"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Bryan Moposita"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Andrea Salgado"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Sebastián Fuentes-Villarreal"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Stefan Alexander Brück"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7hfn56h0jvy7s.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "7hfn56h0jvy7s",
  "issns": [
    "2296-2565"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419/full",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2307|Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224132462",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7hfn56h0jvy7s.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:24Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2307|Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Heavy metals in the Galápagos Archipelago: a One Health scoping review",
  "title_text": "Heavy metals in the Galápagos Archipelago: a One Health scoping review",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7hfn56h0jvy7s",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Public Health",
  "versions": []
}