Co-occurrence of metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Ecuadorian mangrove sediments: influence of forest age and position along a salinity gradient
Groffen, T.; Suello, R.H.; De Meulemeester, L.; Belliard, J.; Dominguez-Granda, L.; Bervoets, L.; Temmerman, S. (2026). Co-occurrence of metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Ecuadorian mangrove sediments: influence of forest age and position along a salinity gradient. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 226: 119372. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119372
In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. Macmillan: London. ISSN 0025-326X; e-ISSN 1879-3363, meer
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| Author keywords |
Environmental fate;Spatial distribution;Granulometry;Organic carbon;Risk assessment;heavy-metals;trace-metals;contamination;ecosystems;carbon;sorption;estuary;soil;adsorption;pollution |
| Auteurs | | Top |
- Groffen, T., meer
- Suello, R.H., meer
- De Meulemeester, L.
- Belliard, J., meer
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- Dominguez-Granda, L.
- Bervoets, L.
- Temmerman, S., meer
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| Abstract |
Coastal wetlands are increasingly exposed to multiple pollutants, including metal and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, metal and PFAS co-occurrence and interactions in mangrove sediments remain poorly understood. This study provides one of the first investigations of metal and PFAS co-distribution in mangrove sediment cores across two contrasting tropical estuarine systems and between old and young mangrove forest sites. No vertical stratification of contaminants was observed, likely due to intense bioturbation. Distinct spatial trends emerged between and within estuaries, reflecting differences in local sources, salinitydriven partitioning, and dilution downstream. Sediments near urbanized areas generally contained higher concentrations of metals and PFAS. Mangrove age influenced contaminant levels, possibly through differences in sediment accretion and hydrological conditions, though these effects were spatially variable. Sediment texture and organic carbon content were relatively uniform, yielding few and generally weak correlations with contaminant concentrations. Significant associations between metals and PFAS suggest co-distribution mechanisms influenced by shared geochemical factors. While metal concentrations indicated moderate contamination and overall limited ecological risk, PFAS levels often exceeded those reported for heavily impacted estuarine systems. These findings highlight the need for source control, long-term monitoring, and multidisciplinary studies integrating hydrology, geochemistry, and ecotoxicology to protect the resilience of mangrove ecosystems facing intensifying anthropogenic pressures. |
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