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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Public Health

Heavy metals in the Galápagos Archipelago: a One Health scoping review

  • Jesús Endara-Mina1,2
  • Tony Fernando Cepeda-Reza3
  • Alexandra Mishell Villagómez-López3
  • Cristopher-Josué Escudero3
  • Dario Chicaiza2
  • Jhon Paul Guerrero-González4
  • Pedro Isaac Torres-Balarezo3
  • Carlos Astudillo-Abad5
  • Ricardo Flores-Palomino6
  • Bryan Moposita3
  • Andrea Salgado3
  • Sebastián Fuentes-Villarreal7
1 more authors
  • Stefan Alexander Brück8
8 affiliations
  1. 1Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja (UTPL)
  2. 2Hospital Provincial General Pablo Arturo Suárez, Ministerio de Salud Pública
  3. 3Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE)
  4. 4Hospital General del Sur de Quito, Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social
  5. 5Hospital Básico de Paute, Ministerio de Salud Pública del Ecuador
  6. 6Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de la Salud y de la Vida, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador
  7. 7Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud y Bienestar Humano, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica
  8. 8Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador
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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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusions: 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.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{endaramina2026heavy,
  title = {{Heavy metals in the Galápagos Archipelago: a One Health scoping review}},
  author = {Jesús Endara-Mina and Tony Fernando Cepeda-Reza and Alexandra Mishell Villagómez-López and Cristopher-Josué Escudero and Dario Chicaiza and Jhon Paul Guerrero-González and Pedro Isaac Torres-Balarezo and Carlos Astudillo-Abad and Ricardo Flores-Palomino and Bryan Moposita and Andrea Salgado and Sebastián Fuentes-Villarreal and Stefan Alexander Brück},
  journal = {Frontiers in Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Heavy metals in the Galápagos Archipelago: a One Health scoping review
AU  - Jesús Endara-Mina
AU  - Tony Fernando Cepeda-Reza
AU  - Alexandra Mishell Villagómez-López
AU  - Cristopher-Josué Escudero
AU  - Dario Chicaiza
AU  - Jhon Paul Guerrero-González
AU  - Pedro Isaac Torres-Balarezo
AU  - Carlos Astudillo-Abad
AU  - Ricardo Flores-Palomino
AU  - Bryan Moposita
AU  - Andrea Salgado
AU  - Sebastián Fuentes-Villarreal
AU  - Stefan Alexander Brück
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/28
JO  - Frontiers in Public Health
DO  - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1896419/full
AB  - 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.  Methods: 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.  Results: 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.  Conclusions: 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.
SN  - 2296-2565
ER  -