Multicompartment and cross-species monitoring of contaminants of emerging concern in an estuarine habitat

The fate of many chemicals in the environment, particularly contaminants of emerging concern (CEC), have been characterised to a limited extent with a major focus on occurrence in water. This study presents the characterisation, distribution and fate of multiple chemicals including pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs and pesticides in surface water, sediment and fauna representing different food web endpoints in a typical UK estuary (River Colne, Essex, UK). A comparison of contaminant occurrence across different benthic macroinvertebrates was made at three sites and included two amphipods (Gammarus pulex & Crangon crangon), a polychaete worm (Hediste diversicolor) and a gastropod (Peringia ulvae). Overall, multiple contaminants were determined in all compartments and ranged from;

Automated summary

The fate of multiple chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs, and pesticides, in the environment was characterized in a UK estuary. Contaminants were found in water, sediment, and fauna, with sediment-dwelling organisms showing greater chemical body burden. The study highlights the importance of considering multiple exposure pathways when assessing chemical fates and risks in aquatic environments.