biostudies-literatureBerrios-Rolon PJConsortium of Hybrid Resilient Energy Systems CHRESNSF Center for the Advancement of Wearable Technologies-CAWT860https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12568084biostudies-literatureUnknown13(10)Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants with significant ecological and public health implications, particularly in urban wetlands exposed to chronic anthropogenic stress. This study evaluates the occurrence, spatial distribution, seasonal variability, and ecological risk of three low molecular weight PAHs-naphthalene (NAP), phenanthrene (PHEN), and anthracene (ANT)-in surface waters of Caño La Malaria, the main freshwater source of Cucharillas Marsh, Puerto Rico's largest urban wetland. Surface water samples were collected at four locations during both wet- and dry-season campaigns. Samples were extracted and quantified by GC-MS. NAP was the dominant compound, Σ3PAHs concentrations ranging from 7.4 to 2198.8 ng/L, with higher wet-season levels (mean = 745ToxicsOccurrence and Distribution of Three Low Molecular Weight PAHs in Cano La Malaria, Cucharillas Marsh (Catano, Puerto Rico): Spatial and Seasonal Variability, Sources, and Ecological Risk.PMC12568084DE-NA00039821849243Cotto MCMarquez FBerrios-Rolon PJfalseOccurrence and Distribution of Three Low Molecular Weight PAHs in Cano La Malaria, Cucharillas Marsh (Catano, Puerto Rico): Spatial and Seasonal Variability, Sources, and Ecological Risk.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants with significant ecological and public health implications, particularly in urban wetlands exposed to chronic anthropogenic stress. This study evaluates the occurrence, spatial distribution, seasonal variability, and ecological risk of three low molecular weight PAHs-naphthalene (NAP), phenanthrene (PHEN), and anthracene (ANT)-in surface waters of Caño La Malaria, the main freshwater source of Cucharillas Marsh, Puerto Rico's largest urban wetland. Surface water samples were collected at four locations during both wet- and dry-season campaigns. Samples were extracted and quantified by GC-MS. NAP was the dominant compound, Σ3PAHs concentrations ranging from 7.4 to 2198.8 ng/L, with higher wet-season levels (mean = 7452025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Oct2026-05-14T03:11:54.802Z2026-05-14T03:08:46.914ZS-EPMC125680844115055910.3390/toxics13100860