Assessing the chemical burden of the North-East Atlantic ecosystem through targeted and untargeted HRMS-based approaches

Human activities have introduced significant amounts of anthropogenic chemicals into marine ecosystems, posing threats to aquatic biodiversity and human health. Although, traditional marine monitoring focus primarily on legacy pollutants, the presence and potential risks associated with complex emerging chemical mixtures should not be neglected. In the context of the present study organized via OSPAR Commission and supported by NORMAN network, 52 marine samples were gathered from North-East Atlantic Ocean. State-of-the-art HRMS-based analytical workflows were employed to identify their chemical fingerprint. 132 organic pollutants were identified through wide-scope target screening of more than 2,400 environmentally relevant organic pollutants. The HRMS data were digitally stored in NORMAN DSFP and 134 additional chemicals were tentatively identified through suspect screening of more than 65,000 chemicals. The list included legacy pollutants, along with emerging pollutants, their metabolites and transformation products. A simplified environmental risk assessment was conducted, aiming to prioritize substances based on their potential risks to the marine ecosystem. This study provides a valuable snapshot of the marine pollution, offering insights into chemical occurrence and risks. The findings can support marine scientists, environmental managers and policymakers in identifying pollutant sources, understanding their impacts, and informing regulatory measures to mitigate threats to marine ecosystems.

Danish samples were sponsored by the Danish EPA. Swedish samples were sponsored by the Swedish EPA, project number 213–20–008. Spanish samples were sponsored by a Fund Management Agreement between the IEO and the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge. German mussel samples were provided by the German Environmental specimen bank. Susana Galante-Oliveira acknowledges the financial support to CESAM-UA by FCT/MCTES (UIDP/50017/2020+ UIDB/50017/2020+ LA/P/0094/2020) through national funds. French samples (3 bivalves) were sampled by IFREMER teams and co-funded by the French mussel watch monitoring legacy contaminants (ROCCH) and contaminants of emergent concern (Emergent'Sea). The authors acknowledge Els Smit of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Netherlands for her comments on earlier drafts of the manuscript. The conclusions expressed in this paper represent the expert judgement of the authors, but not necessarily the opinion of their affiliation. Georgios O. Gkotsis acknowledges the A. G. Leventis Foundation for the financial support during his PhD studies.

Peer reviewed