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Mangrove forests of Ecuador's Gulf of Guayaquil are ecologically, culturally, and economically important to local communities relying on them for artisanal fishing, ecotourism, and related businesses. However, these ecosystems have experienced significant degradation by anthropogenic impacts such as anthropogenic marine debris. On one hand, plastics have improved the ease of life and safety for local people of the region; however, plastic pollution threatens the health of the mangrove ecosystem and these communities. This interdisciplinary study explores perceptions of marine litter and its impacts on community well-being based on surveys conducted in Puerto Hondo and Santay Island, two mangrove communities in the Gulf of Guayaquil, in 2019 and 2021. Santay Island respondents expressed that marine litter is an extreme issue affecting their well-being, while Puerto Hondo respondents reported less concern. Authors suggest Puerto Hondo's geographic link to Guayaquil city has transitioned the community into a "peri-urban" landscape, where community members increasingly look inland for basic needs. Conversely, Santay Island, isolated by estuarine water, is physically linked to the mangroves. It is suggested that as communities spend less time in the mangroves, whether geographically or socially separated, marine litter becomes "out of sight, out of mind" despite its ongoing impacts on local food security and historical heritage. This work illustrates the complexities of plastic use and marine debris. To foster equitable plastic waste governance for exposed coastal Ecuadorian communities, policies must not only account for these intricacies but also actively engage with and listen to local perspectives. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive investigation of PAHs' occurrence and distribution in the water, sediment, and fish samples of Musa estuary was conducted. Concentrations of 16 PAHs in water, sediment and two commercial fish ranged from 0.14 to 0.66 ng/l, 67.21 to 82.92 ng/g dw, 50.25 to 99.39 ng/g fdw in J. belangerii , and 40.14 to 76.93 ng/g fdw in B. orentalis , respectively. High molecular weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs) were generally predominant compared to low molecular weight PAHs (LMW-PAHs). Additionally, the study of the PAHs fingerprints, using specific ratios, suggests the predominance of a pyrolytic origin for observed PAHs. 4-ring PAHs were observed more in the two species, whereas the PAHs in sediments were dominated by three and five ring compounds. The Incremental lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) for fish was ≤10 E 10−5, showed a minimal possible risk of cancer for children and adult. • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been determined in tissues of fish, water, and sediments, from the Musa estuary and Persian Gulf. • The study of the PAHs fingerprints suggested that PAHs were primarily derived from different sources mainly petroleum and combustion sources. • Findings provide baseline data for further research on ecotoxicity of PAHs in biota and abiota. • The occurrence of PAHs in seafood for human consumption is cause for concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]