Detection of PPCPs in marine organisms from contaminated coastal waters of the Saudi Red Sea

The occurrence of PPCPs in macroalgae, barnacle and fish samples fromcontaminated coastalwaters of the Saudi Red Sea is reported. Solvent extraction followed by solid phase extraction was applied to isolate the compounds, and their quantification was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Atenolol, ranitidine, chlorpheniramine, DEET, and atrazinewere detected in one ormore macroalgae at bLOQ concentration, whereas caffeine, methylparaben, and carbamazepine were present atmaximum concentrations of 41.3, 44.3, and 1.7 ng/g (on a dryweight basis= dw), respectively. Eleven PPCPswere detected in the barnacle samples at concentrations between < LOQ and maximum concentration of 17.9 ng/g dw for amitriptyline. Furthermore, 17 compoundswere detected in several or all of the five fish species studied with amaximumconcentration of 82.1 ng/g dw for metronidazole in Silver Biddy. The bioaccumulation factors (BAF) for selected PPCPs were determined and compared. The occurrence and enrichment of PPCPs inmacroalgae and barnaclesmight indicate that a newroute for uptake of such chemicals bymarine biota is available, specifically in contaminatedwaters where a continuous supply of non-persistent contaminants such as PPCPs is available for long-termexposure of local benthic organisms. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.