Occurrence and risks of antibiotics in the coastal aquatic environment of the Yellow Sea, North China

► Some antibiotics were ubiquitous in coastal seawater of the Yellow Sea, North China. ► Higher concentrations and spatial variations were presented in the semi-enclosed bay. ► Lower concentrations and spatial variations were presented in the open bays. ► Source of the antibiotics in the different bays varied largely. ► Parts of the antibiotics in one bay posed high ecological risks to some organisms.