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Despite the fact that metabolites of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEO) are classified as hazardous substances, they continue to be released into the environment from a variety of sources and are not usually monitored. Their wide use has led to an increase in the possible exposure pathways for humans, which is cause for alarm. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge about the behaviour of these metabolites with respect to the environment and toxicity, and their biological effects on human health. The aim of this work is to give an overview of the APEO metabolites and their analysis, occurrences and toxicity in various environmental and human samples. APEO metabolites have adverse effects on humans, wildlife, and the environment through their release into the environment. Currently, there are some reviews available on the behaviour of alkylphenols in soil, sediments, groundwater, surface water and food. However, none of these articles consider their toxicity in humans and especially their effect on the nervous and immune system. This work summarises the environmental occurrences of metabolites of APEOs in matrices, e.g. water, food and biological matrices, their effect on the immune and nervous systems, and isomer-specific issues. With that emphasis we are able to cover most common occurrences of human exposure, whether direct or indirect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal exposure to phenols, phthalates (PAEs), and organophosphate (OP) pesticides may increase the risk of abnormal birth outcomes. However, many previous studies have examined exposure to a limited number of chemical classes or exposure profiles limited to a specific stage of pregnancy. This study aims to characterize the concurrent exposure scenario throughout pregnancy by simultaneously monitoring internal doses of several endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), including 2 phenols (nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA)), 9 PAEs, and 6 OP pesticide metabolites and to assess the relationships between concurrent exposure to EDCs and infant birth weight, length, and head and chest circumference. One hundred and sixty two women provided three spot urine samples at approximately 11 and 26 weeks gestation and at delivery. We applied multivariable linear regression and ridge regression models to estimate the effects of separate and correlated exposures. Multivariable linear regression models revealed that women with short birth-length infants had significantly higher urinary second-trimester NP levels (50th percentile, 5.03 μg/g creatinine) (β = − 0.47 cm; 95% CI = − 0.93 to − 0.01). Similarly significant relationships were observed between second-trimester mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) exposure and short birth length, second-trimester ΣPAEs and short birth length, second-trimester ΣPAEs exposure and reduced head and chest circumference, second-trimester diethylphosphate (DEP) exposure and reduced birth weight and length, and second-trimester ΣDEPs exposure and short birth length. Women with urinary BPA above the 75th percentile or ΣPAEs levels above the 50th percentile in the third trimester had infants with significantly reduced head circumference. These observations suggest that the second trimester may be the critical stage of susceptibility for fetal development. In ridge regression models, for which women with fewer measures for exposure to NP, BPA, MMP, ΣPAEs, DEP and ΣDEPs simultaneously were available, no relationships were found with infant size at birth. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study, one of the most complete ever performed in France, was to carry out an extensive survey on the potential presence of a large amount of emerging contaminants in 40 French bottled waters, including parent compounds and metabolites. The studied samples represented 70% of the French bottled water market in volume. Six classes of compounds were investigated, most of them being unregulated in bottled waters: pesticides and their transformation products (118), pharmaceutical substances (172), hormones (11), alkylphenols (APs) (8), phthalates (11) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (10). One of the objectives of this work was to achieve low and reliable limits of quantification (LOQs) (87% of the LOQs were below 10 ng/L) using advanced analytical technologies and reliable sample preparation methodologies, including stringent quality controls. Among the 14,000 analyses performed, 99.7% of the results were below the LOQs. None of the hormones, pharmaceutical substances and phthalates were quantified. Nineteen compounds out of the 330 investigated were quantified in 11 samples. Eleven were pesticides including 7 metabolites, 6 were PFAS and 2 were APs. As regards pesticides, their sum was at least twice lower than the quality standards applicable for bottled waters in France. The presence of a majority of pesticide metabolites suggested a former use in the recharge areas of the exploited aquifers. The quantification of a few unregulated emerging compounds at the nano-trace level, such as PFAS, raised the issue of their potential sources, including long-range atmospheric transport and deposition. This study confirmed that the groundwater aquifers exploited for bottling were well-preserved from chemicals, as compared to less geologically protected groundwaters, and also underlined the need to pursue the protection policies implemented in recharge areas in order to limit the anthropogenic pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the importance of domestic wastewater, the contribution of greywater to both alkylphenol and phthalate pollution is not yet well documented. Likewise, the detailed emissions of phthalates and alkylphenols by greywater have been insufficiently studied, this work aims to fill this gap. The levels of four phthalates (DEP, DnBP, BBP and DEHP) and two alkylphenols (nonylphenol isomers and octylphenol) were quantified in six different types of greywater, namely that from washing machines, manual dishwashing, dishwashers, bathroom water (from showers and sinks) and floor cleaning. This paper presents the methodology used to characterize all sources of greywater and provides their levels of contamination. The highest concentrations were found in greywater produced by the washing machine and floor cleaning, while washing machine and shower greywater have the highest phthalate and alkylphenol loads because of the volume associated with these two sources of greywater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical contaminants can be introduced into estuarine and marine ecosystems from a variety of sources including wastewater, agriculture and forestry practices, point and non-point discharges, runoff from industrial, municipal, and urban lands, accidental spills, and atmospheric deposition. The diversity of potential sources contributes to the likelihood of contaminated marine waters and sediments and increases the probability of uptake by marine organisms. Despite widespread recognition of direct and indirect pathways for contaminant deposition and organismal exposure in coastal systems, spatial and temporal variability in contaminant composition, deposition, and uptake patterns are still poorly known. We investigated these patterns for a suite of persistent legacy contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and chemicals of emerging concern including pharmaceuticals within two Oregon coastal estuaries (Coos and Netarts Bays). In the more urbanized Coos Bay, native Olympia oyster ( Ostrea lurida ) tissue had approximately twice the number of PCB congeners at over seven times the total concentration, yet fewer PBDEs at one-tenth the concentration as compared to the more rural Netarts Bay. Different pharmaceutical suites were detected during each sampling season. Variability in contaminant types and concentrations across seasons and between species and media (organisms versus sediment) indicates the limitation of using indicator species and/or sampling annually to determine contaminant loads at a site or for specific species. The results indicate the prevalence of legacy contaminants and CECs in relatively undeveloped coastal environments highlighting the need to improve policy and management actions to reduce contaminant releases into estuarine and marine waters and to deal with legacy compounds that remain long after prohibition of use. Our results point to the need for better understanding of the ecological and human health risks of exposure to the diverse cocktail of pollutants and harmful compounds that will continue to leach from estuarine sediments over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were extensively produced and used throughout the last century. In the early 1980s, a rising concern on the environmental impact of these chemicals has led to the establishment of regulations and changes of use including bans. Long term monitoring of the environmental impacts of these emissions and regulations is a challenge because regular monitoring was not mandatory at the beginning of the first emissions. Moreover, the analytical methods have been strongly improved over the decades. To overcome the lack of monitoring and accurate data, sediment cores are powerful tools to construct contamination records. In this study, a high resolution record was constructed for four POPs families (13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 15 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 3 alkylphenols (APs) and 8 polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDEs)) to establish their historical trends in a long-term urbanized and industrialized environment: the Seine River basin, France. These specific families were selected because they had different sources, uses and histories. The results showed concentrations up to 90 mg/kg for ∑ PAHs, 2.3 mg/kg for ∑ PCB, 1.2 mg/kg for ∑ APs and 0.06 mg/kg for ∑ PBDE. The vertical distribution profiles were different from one family to another and presented a good correlation with uses (e.g. transition from coal to natural gas for PAHs), and regulation implementation (e.g., AP ban after “OSPAR Convention” in 1992). The study of compounds distribution provided original information on sources, e.g. temporal variations in PAH uses. This study demonstrates the usefulness and accuracy of sedimentary archives in floodplain to assess the fate of POPs through time in continental hydrosystems. These first results give a comprehensive overview of the contamination in the Seine River basin downstream of Paris Megacity. They were in good agreement with previous studies dedicated to European areas and highlighted specificities of this basin that were not reported before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distributions of alkylphenol (AP) and bisphenol A (BPA) in marine organisms, including fish, prawns and molluscs, could reflect the exposure of AP and BPA directly and effectively. This paper provides the first report on the species-dependent distribution and the human health risks of four APs (4-t-octylphenol, 4-t-OP; 4-octylphenol, 4-OP;4-nonylphenol, 4-NP; 4-n-nonylphenol, 4-n-NP) and BPA in 95 wild and 88 processed marine biota samples from the East China Sea of the Yangtze River Delta area. 4-NP was the predominant compound with the highest detected concentration of 19,890.50 ng/g ww. Significant pollution was observed in Taizhou, Shanghai and Ningbo. The species-dependent distribution was related to food habits, living patterns and trophic transfer. Higher residual concentrations of 4-t-OP, 4-OP, 4-n-NP and BPA were observed in fish species that consumed benthic organisms or demersal fish species, whereas 4-NP showed different results due to trophic dilution. The trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of the linear APs (4-OP and 4-n-NP) (1.22–2.93) were higher than those of the branched ones (4-t-OP and 4-NP) (0.72–0.90), indicating the relative metabolism stability of linear APs. 4-NP has the lowest TMF value of 0.72, and its trophic dilution might be observed because the branched carbon chain exhibits the lowest dispersion force compared to that of the other APs. As for the health risk, 7-year old children may be exposed to the highest health risk of 4-NP with 95th percentile values of the hazard quotient of 0.22 to 0.23; however, the risks of the other chemicals were relatively low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence, distribution and bioaccumulation of five endocrine disrupting compounds (4-tert-octylphenol, 4- n -octylphenol, 4- n -nonylphenol, nonylphenol and bisphenol A) in water, sediment and biota ( Corbicula fluminea ) collected along the Minho River estuary (NW Iberian Peninsula) were examined. Samples were collected in two campaigns (May and November, 2012) and analyzed by different extraction procedures followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination. The presence of linear isomers (4- n -octylphenol and 4- n -nonylphenol) was scarcely observed whereas branched isomers (4-tert-octylphenol and nonylphenol) were measured in almost all samples. Wastewater treatment plant effluents and nautical, fishing and agricultural activities are considered the primary source of pollution of the river by alkylphenols. The presence of bisphenol A in the river could be mainly associated to punctual sources of contamination from industrial discharges. A decrease in the total concentration of phenolic compounds in water was observed from spring to autumn (from 0.888 μg L − 1 in May to 0.05 μg L − 1 in November), while similar values were shown in C. fluminea samples from the two campaigns (1388 and 1228 ng g − 1 dw in spring and autumn, respectively). In sediments, the total concentration of the target compounds varied between 13 and 4536 ng g − 1 dw (average of 1041 ng g − 1 dw). Sediment–water partition coefficient (K d ), bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and biota–sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) were estimated and highest values were obtained for nonylphenol. Calculated risk quotients showed low and moderate risk for the aquatic environment from the presence of the target compounds at all sampling points. The estimation of the daily intake of the studied compounds via water and biota ingestion indicated no risk for human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban streams are an integral part of the municipal water cycle and provide a point of discharge for wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents, allowing additional attenuation through dilution and transformation processes, as well as a conduit for transporting contaminants to downstream water supplies. Domestic and commercial activities dispose of wastes down-the-drain, resulting in wastewater containing complex chemical mixtures that are only partially removed during treatment. A key issue associated with WWTP effluent discharge into streams is the potential to cause endocrine disruption in fish. This study provides a long-term (1999–2009) evaluation of the occurrence of alkylphenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and other contaminants discharged from WWTPs into streams in the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River Regions (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio). The Greater Metropolitan Chicago Area Waterways, Illinois, were evaluated to determine contaminant concentrations in the major WWTP effluents and receiving streams, and assess the behavior of EDCs from their sources within the sewer collection system, through the major treatment unit processes at a WWTP, to their persistence and transport in the receiving stream. Water samples were analyzed for alkylphenolic EDCs and other contaminants, including 4-nonylphenol (NP), 4-nonylphenolpolyethoxylates (NPEO), 4-nonylphenolethoxycarboxylic acids (NPEC), 4- tert -octylphenol (OP), 4- tert -octylphenolpolyethoxylates (OPEO), bisphenol A, triclosan, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and trace elements. All of the compounds were detected in all of the WWTP effluents, with EDTA and NPEC having the greatest concentrations. The compounds also were detected in the WWTP effluent dominated rivers. Multiple fish species were collected from river and lake sites and analyzed for NP, NPEO, NPEC, OP, and OPEO. Whole-body fish tissue analysis indicated widespread occurrence of alkylphenolic compounds, with the highest concentrations occurring in streams with the greatest WWTP effluent content. Biomarkers of endocrine disruption in the fish indicated long-term exposure to estrogenic chemicals in the wastewater impacted urban waterways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Phthalates and alkylphenols are toxics classified as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). They are of particular concern due to their ubiquity and generally higher levels found in the environment comparatively to other EDCs. Industrial and domestic discharges might affect the quality of receiving waters by discharging organic matter and contaminants through treated waters and combined sewer overflows. Historically, industrial discharges are often considered as the principal vector of pollution in urban areas. If this observation was true in the past for some contaminants, no current data are today available to compare the quality of industrial and domestic discharges as regards EDCs. In this context, a total of 45 domestic samples as well as 101 industrial samples were collected from different sites, including 14 residential and 33 industrial facilities. This study focuses more specifically on 4 phthalates and 2 alkylphenols, among the most commonly studied congeners. A particular attention was also given to routine wastewater quality parameters. For most substances, wastewaters from the different sites were heavily contaminated; they display concentrations up to 1200μg/l for di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and between 10 and 100μg/l for diethyl phthalate and nonylphenol. Overall, for the majority of compounds, the industrial contribution to the flux of contaminant reaching the wastewater treatment plants ranges between 1 and 3%. The data generated during this work constitutes one of the first studies conducted in Europe on industrial fluxes for a variety of sectors of activity. The study of the wastewater contribution was used to better predict the industrial and domestic contributions at the scale of a huge conurbation heavily urbanized but with a weak industrial cover, illustrated by Paris. Our results indicate that specific investigations on domestic discharges are necessary in order to reduce the release of phthalates and alkylphenols in the sewer systems for such conurbations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The influence of industrial and/or municipal contaminant inputs on the aquatic environment of Pohang, Korea was investigated, with a focus on bioassay combined with instrumental analysis. Pohang is the most heavily populated city in Gyeongsangbuk-do province of Korea, with more than half a million residents, and also hosts the nation's biggest steel manufacturer and related industries. Sediment (n=15) and surface water samples (n=17) were collected from Hyeongsan River which runs across the Pohang city, in two separate events, i.e., June 2010 and February 2011. Sediment samples were first Soxhlet-extracted (raw extract) and were measured for estrogenicity using H295R cell line, and also analyzed for alkylphenols (APs), bisphenol A (BPA), PAHs, and PCBs. For sediment samples which exhibited greatest effects in the cell line, further fractionation was performed into non-polar, mid-polar, and polar portions. In surface water samples, heavy metals were also analyzed. Among 15 sediment samples, station S2 near the steel industry complex and station M3 near the municipal area showed the greatest sex hormone changes, and these changes were generally explained by the fractions which contained APs and BPA. Principal component analysis (PCA) however suggests that chemicals that were not analyzed in the present study would better explain endocrine disruption capacity of sediments. In water samples, adverse effects on hatchability and growth of Japanese medaka fish, and on Daphnia reproduction were noted following exposure to six water samples collected from stations near industrial and municipal areas. Several heavy metals and nonylphenol (NP) concentrations exceeded surface water quality guidelines, suggesting adverse effects of contamination inputs from both industrial and municipal activities. Observed estrogenicities in stations such as S2 and M3 warrant further investigations on longer term ecosystem impacts near industrial and municipal areas. The levels of major organic chemicals in sediments are quite comparable to those reported in ~10years ago, emphasizing a need for source control. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate the potential presence of a broad range of organic compounds, such as hormones, alkylphenols, bisphenol A and phthalates, as well as pharmaceutical substances in two brands of bottled natural mineral waters (Evian and Volvic, Danone). The phthalates were determined by solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME-GC–MS) and the other compounds by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) or gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) after solid-phase extraction. The potential migration of alkylphenols, bisphenol A and phthalates from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles was also investigated under standardized test conditions. Evian and Volvic natural mineral waters contain none of the around 120 targeted organic compounds. Traces of 3 pharmaceuticals (ketoprofen, salicylic acid, and caffeine), 3 alkylphenols (4-nonylphenol, 4-t-octylphenol, and 4-nonylphenol diethoxylate), and some phthalates including di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) were detected in the samples, but they were also present in the procedural blanks at similar levels. The additional test procedures demonstrated that the few detected compounds originated from the background laboratory contamination. Analytical procedures have been designed both in the bottling factory and in the laboratory in order to investigate the sources of DEHP and to minimize to the maximum this unavoidable laboratory contamination. It was evidenced that no migration of the targeted compounds from bottles occurred under the test conditions. The results obtained in this study underline the complexity of reaching a reliable measure to qualify the contamination of a sample at ultra-trace level, in the field of very pure matrices. The analytical procedures involving glassware, equipment, hoods, and rooms specifically dedicated to trace analysis allowed us to reach reliable procedural limits of quantification at the ng/L level, by lowering the background laboratory contamination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Naphthenic acids are considered variously as monocarboxylic acids fitting the formula CnH2n+zO2 (where z is a zero or negative even integer), as only alicyclic (i.e. non-aromatic) monocarboxylic acids fitting this formula (z≤0), or simply as those carboxylic acids occurring in petroleum products or crude oils that have been formed through biodegradation of hydrocarbons. Such acids are known constituents of the process-affected water associated with some expanding oil sands industries, of some immature and biodegraded crude oils, of produced water discharges from oil production platforms and are used as biocides and as components in the manufacture of steel radial tyres. As a result of these potential vectors of the acids into the environment, various naphthenic acid mixtures which are available commercially have been used for a range of toxicity studies. However, as some manufacturers make clear, but which is not often emphasised in the toxicity studies, a range of different quality naphthenic acids is produced commercially. It has been suggested previously, and we showed recently and elucidate further herein, that such commercial mixtures therefore sometimes contain toxic components other than carboxylic acids. For example, we identify herein by two-dimensional comprehensive gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, a range of C0–6 alkylphenols in a batch of commercial naphthenic acids. Since these compounds are known toxicants, the contribution of such non-carboxylic acids, if any, to the toxicity attributed previously to the acids, should also be considered. This will be reflected in the concentrations and effective toxicities of such components. In order to establish the toxicity of the acids per se, assays of pure synthetic carboxylic acids of the type now known to be present in naphthenic acids from petroleum or oil sands may be more appropriate than tests of the toxicity of largely unknown, heterogeneous, mixtures. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Although the levels of micropollutants in landfill leachate and municipal wastewater are well-established, the individual removal mechanisms and the fate of micropollutants throughout a landfill leachate treatment plant (LTP) were seldom investigated. Therefore, the determination of the removal efficiencies and the fates of micropollutants in a full-scale leachate treatment plant located in the largest city of Turkey were aimed in this study. Some important processes, such as equalization pond, bioreactor, ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF), are being operated in the treatment plant. Landfill leachate was characterized as an intense pollution source of macro and micropollutants compared to other water types. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH 3 , suspended solids (SS) and electrical conductivity (EC) values of the landfill leachate (and their removal efficiencies in the treatment plant) were determined as 18,656 ± 12,098 mg/L (98%), 3090 ± 845 mg/L (99%), 4175 ± 1832 mg/L (95%) and 31 ± 2 mS/cm (51%), respectively. Within the scope of the study, the most frequently and abundantly detected micropollutants in the treatment plant were found as heavy metals (8 ± 1.7 mg/L), VOCs (38 ± 2 μg/L), alkylphenols (9 ± 3 μg/L) and phthalates (8 ± 3 μg/L) and the overall removal efficiencies of these micropollutants ranged from −11% to 100% in the treatment processes. The main removal mechanism of VOCs in the aerobic treatment process has been found as the volatilization due to Henry constants greater than 100 Pa·m3/mol. However, the molecular weight cut off restriction of UF membrane has caused to less or negative removal efficiencies for some VOCs. The biological treatment unit which consists of sequential anoxic and oxic units (A/O) was found effective on the removal of PAHs (62%) and alkylphenols (87%). It was inferred that both NO 3 accumulation in anoxic reactor, high hydraulic retention time (HRT) and sludge retention time (SRT) in aerobic reactor provide higher biodegradation and volatilization efficiencies as compared to the literature. Membrane processes were more effective on the removal of alkylphenols (60–80%) and pesticides (59–74%) in terms of influent and effluent loads of each unit. Removal efficiencies for Cu, Ni and Cr, which were the dominant heavy metals, were determined as 92, 91 and 51%, respectively and the main removal mechanism for heavy metals has thought to be coprecipitation of suspended solids by microbial biopolymers in the bioreactor and the separation of colloids during membrane filtration. Total effluent loads of the LTP for VOCs, semi volatiles and heavy metals were 1.0 g/day, 5.2 g/day and 1.5 kg/day, respectively. It has been concluded that the LTP was effectively removing both conventional pollutants and micropollutants with the specific operation costs of 0.27 $/(kg of removed COD), 0.13 $/(g of removed VOCs), 0.35 $/(g of removed SVOCs) and 2.6 $/(kg of removed metals). Unlabelled Image • The full-scale and largest leachate treatment plant of Turkey was investigated. • BTEX were significantly removed in the bioreactor between 81 and 100%. • Membrane processes were found more effective on the removal of SVOCs unlike VOCs. • The volatility of PAHs was found as the main removal mechanism in the bioreactor. • Loads of the LTP for VOCs, SVOCs and heavy metals were 1.0, 5.2 g/day and 1.5 kg/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), alkylphenols, organotin compounds, phthalates, alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, current-use pesticides (CUPs) and personal care products (PCPs) was characterized in 29 surface sediments from two Spanish Iberian continental shelf areas (14 on the Atlantic and 15 on the Mediterranean coasts). Concretely, 115 organic contaminants were determined and a specific methodology was used for each contaminant group, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and traditional ones, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs). PAHs, alkylated PAHs, alkylphenols and phthalates were found in all samples, showing mean concentrations per group higher than 20 ng/g (16–4974 ng/g d.w.) in the subregions under consideration (Galician, Cantabrian, Levantine-Balearic and Strait-Alboran). CUPs and PCPs were found in the majority of samples at very low concentrations of ng/g (1.4–46.8 ng/g d.w.), whereas organotins and PFAS were found principally in sediments from the Mediterranean subregions (2.5–3.9 ng/g d.w.). Different distribution patterns were observed for the contaminant groups and subregions under consideration as a consequence of the diverse predominant sources (industrial, urban, transport and agricultural activities) and environmental behavior (mainly hydrophobicity and persistence). Risk assessment confirmed the impact of phthalates, alkylphenols, PAHs and PCBs on Atlantic ecosystems and of alkylphenols, chlorpyrifos, phthalates, TBT, PAHs, OCPs and PCBs on the Mediterranean ones. Furthermore, the presence of CUPs, PCPs and PFAS in sediments from the Spanish continental shelf located between 2 and 31 km from the coast suggested that those contaminants may also provoke adverse effects on coastal marine ecosystems between their sources and their depositional areas. Alkylphenols, phthalates and organotins may provoke adverse effects on Spanish coastal marine ecosystems from their sources to the sediment depositional areas. Unlabelled Image • Alkylated PAHs, alkylphenols and phthalates were found in all sediment samples. • Organotins and PFAS were mainly found in Mediterranean sediments. • Alkylphenols, phthalates and organotins may provoke adverse effects in sediments. • CUPs, PCPs and PFAS were also present in continental shelf sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]