Occurrence of triclosan, triclocarban, and its lesser chlorinated congeners in Minnesota freshwater sediments collected near wastewater treatment plants

► First statewide U.S. survey finds antimicrobial compounds in Minnesota freshwater sediments. ► Triclosan, triclocarban (TCC) and its lesser chlorinated analogs were detected in all the samples. ► Antimicrobials occur both upstream and downstream of wastewater discharge locations. ► TCC is more abundant than its dechlorinated transformation products and triclosan. ► Detected degradates suggest that dechlorination of TCC in freshwater environmentsis ubiquitous.