Developing interim water quality criteria for emerging chemicals of concern for protecting marine life in the Greater Bay Area of South China

This study aimed to establish marine water quality criteria (MWQC) for emerging chemicals of concern (ECCs) for protecting aquatic life in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of South China. Despite the frequent occurrence and elevated concentrations of these ECCs in the GBA, there is a lack of regional MWQC for these contaminants. We screened 21 common ECCs that were classified into the following six groups: (1) new persistent organic contaminants; (2) brominated flame retardants; (3) perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances; (4) pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs); (5) plasticizers; and (6) personal care products. Globally, MWQC for PhACs remain largely unavailable despite their increasing occurrence in marine environments. Using an integrative scientific approach, we derived interim MWQC for the GBA with specific protection goals. The approach described herein can be applied for the derivation of MWQC for ECCs and the establishment of guidelines for ecological risk assessment in the GBA and other regions.