Abstract
Mangrove wetlands provide essential ecosystem services such as coastal protection and fisheries. Metal pollution due to industrial and agricultural activities represents an issue of growing concern for the Guayas River Basin and related mangroves in Ecuador. Fisheries and the related human consumption of mangrove crabs are in need of scientific support. In order to protect human health and aid river management, we analyzed several elements in the Guayas Estuary. Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg accumulation were assessed in different compartments of the commercial red mangrove crab Ucides occidentalis (hepatopancreas, carapax, and white meat) and the environment (sediment, leaves, and water), sampled at fifteen sites over five stations. Consistent spatial distribution of metals in the Guayas estuary was found. Nickel levels in the sediment warn for ecological caution. The presence of As in the crabs generated potential concerns on the consumers’ health, and a maximum intake of eight crabs per month for adults is advised. The research outcomes are of global importance for at least nine Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The results presented can support raising awareness about the ongoing contamination of food and their related ecosystems and the corresponding consequences for environmental and human health worldwide.
Highlights
Increasing degradation of ecosystems is causing biodiversity loss and affecting the quality of water-related ecosystem services
The research outcomes are of global importance for at least nine Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The Igeo index indicated that Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Cr appeared to be present in natural concentration levels, indicating that the mangrove ecosystem has not been significantly contaminated by anthropogenic sources
Summary
Increasing degradation of ecosystems is causing biodiversity loss and affecting the quality of water-related ecosystem services. These services cover a wide range of benefits, including water purification, carbon capture and storage, natural flood protection, and provision of water for agriculture, fisheries, and recreation [1]. Mangrove wetlands have important ecological functions such as coastal protection, salinity buffering, and nutrient transport [2,3,4]. Pressures on these ecosystems are growing worldwide due to anthropogenic activities, with almost 50% of all mangrove wetlands having disappeared over the past 50 years [5,6]. In South America, various anthropogenic activities such as intensive agricultural practices, oil refineries, and metal mining are reported to be important pollution sources of water-related ecosystems [9,10,11,12,13]
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