Contaminants of Emerging Concern Detected By Comprehensive Target Analysis in a Sediment Core Collected From Osaka Bay, Japan

The contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) have been one of the major concerns in recent. The objective of this study was to find potential CECs using an analytical screening method “comprehensive target analysis with an automated identification and quantification system (CTA-AIQS)” which uses gas and liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC-MS and LC-MS). CTA-AIQS was applied to analyze sediment core samples collected from Osaka Bay, Japan, in 2019. Among the 74 chemicals were detected in sediment core samples, six sterols, PPCPs (fexofenadine, diphenhydramine, and clarithromycin), and tris(2-isopropylphenyl)phosphate isomers (TIPPPs) showed increasing profile from bottom to surface layer of the sediment core. Through the screening with chemical properties (persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity) of those chemicals, TIPPPs were categorized as potential CECs in the marine environment in Japan.