Occurrence and distribution of synthetic musks and organic UV filters from riverine and coastal sediments in the Pearl River estuary of China

• SMs and UVFs are ubiquitous in the sediments from the Pearl River and coastal environments.
• SMs and UVFs exhibited distinct spatial trends in the riverine runoff outlets and Pearl River estuary.
• Remarkably high levels of SMs and UVFs were detected in fishing harbors.
• SMs showed a significant correlation with total organic carbon content.

This study reports the occurrence and distribution of synthetic musks (SMs) and organic UV filters (UVFs) in sediment samples collected in 8 riverine runoffs from the Pearl River and Pearl River estuary (PRE). Here, 6 of the 8 target compounds were detected in all sediments with concentrations ranging from 0.35 ng g− 1 to 456 ng g− 1. Higher concentrations of SMs and UVFs were evident in the eastern outlets compared to the western suggesting greater input of these contaminants from the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region. All the compounds showed a decreasing trend toward the seaward side which confirming that riverine runoff was the most important source of SMs and UVFs to the coastal environment. Notably, high levels of SMs and UVFs were detected in two fishing harbors in the PRE area. In comparison to UVFs, the SM compounds exhibited a significant correlation with TOC content in the sediments.