JERUSALEM, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Researchers from Israel and Ecuador have found evidence of marine pollution in waters around Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, including in protected areas far from human activity, Israel's Ben Gurion University of the Negev said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Galapagos Islands are a volcanic archipelago in the Eastern Pacific about 1,000 km off Ecuador's coast. Famous for its wildlife and as the inspiration for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, 97 percent of the islands are protected as a National Park.
The findings, published in Regional Studies in Marine Science, suggest that pollutants are reaching one of the world's most important marine ecosystems despite strict conservation measures.
The researchers collected water samples from 10 locations, including ports, tourist beaches and remote protected sites closed to visitors.
Laboratory tests detected pollutants such as oil-related hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, industrial chemicals, flame retardants, synthetic hormones, and Ultraviolet (UV) filters commonly used in sunscreens and cosmetics.
A UV filter known as 4-MBC was detected at two remote sites with no human activity, suggesting that ocean currents can transport contaminants over long distances.
The researchers said untreated wastewater, poor waste management, plastic pollution and industrial fishing near the marine reserve may also contribute to contamination.
They called for urgent monitoring and stronger management measures to help protect the fragile ecosystem.
