Preliminary dataset of emerging contaminants in surface water, bottom water, porewater, and sediment: Urban and aquaculture impacts in Coliumo bay and Caucahue Channel in the central and southern coast of Chile

Abstract

Synthetic organic chemicals, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial compounds, pose a growing threat to marine ecosystems. Despite their potential impact, data on the co-occurrence of these contaminants in multiple compartments, including surface water, bottom water, porewater, and sediment in the marine environment remains limited. Such information is critical for assessing coastal chemical status, establishing environmental quality benchmarks, and conducting comprehensive environmental risk assessments. In this study, we describe a multifaceted monitoring campaign targeting pesticides, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, additives, and plasticizers among other synthetic chemicals in four sampling sites. One site was located in the small Coliumo bay affected by urban settlements and tourism in central-south and additionally, we sampled three sites, Caucahue Channel, affected by urban settlements and salmon farming in northern Patagonia in Chile. Surface water, bottom water, porewater, and adjacent sediment samples were collected for target screening analysis in LC- and GC-HRMS platforms. Our results show the detection of up to 83 chemicals in surface water, 71 in bottom water, 101 in porewater, and 244 in sediments. To enhance data utility and reuse potential, we provide valuable information on the mode of action and molecular targets of the identified chemicals. This comprehensive dataset contributes to defining pollution fingerprints in coastal areas of the Global South, including remote regions in Patagonia. It serves as a critical resource for future research including marine chemical risk assessment, policymaking, and the advancement of environmental protection in these regions.

Keywords

• Target screening
• Pesticides
• Pharmaceuticals
• Marine pollution
• LVSPE