US EPA

6505749 

Journal Article 

Distribution of micropollutants in estuarine and sea water along the Portuguese coast 

Sousa, JCG; Barbosa, MO; Ribeiro, ARL; Ratola, N; Pereira, MFR; Silva, AMT 

2020 

1 

Marine Pollution Bulletin
ISSN: 0025-326X
EISSN: 1879-3363 

154 

111120 

English 

32319933 

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111120 

WOS:000528205900073 

This work provides the first spatial distribution report of micropollutants (MPs) in the entire Portuguese coast, comprising the ocean shore (sea water, SW) and whenever possible the nearest river discharging on it (estuarine water, EW). This surface water monitoring programme aimed to assess the spatial distribution of 37 MPs with a wide chemical nature, including some substances prioritized by the European Union Directive 39/2013/EU and contaminants of emerging concern targeted in the Watch List of Decisions 495/2015/EU and 840/2018/EU. The risk quotients were estimated in each sampling point for the detected MPs. High concentrations of diclofenac, tramadol and carbamazepine were determined, the latter with medium to high risk for algae. Some pharmaceuticals and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were broadly distributed, maybe due to the direct discharge into the sea. Atrazine and alachlor were found in the majority of the samples, with alachlor levels often considered as medium to high risk.