Factors regulating the accumulation and spatial distribution of the emerging contaminant triclosan in the sediments of an urbanized estuary: Greenwich Bay, Rhode Island, USA

► We investigated the distribution of triclosan in sediments and water of an urbanized estuary with high density sampling. ► The estuary receives effluent from a small wastewater treatment plant, which is the only known local source of triclosan. ► A spatial distribution of triclosan throughout the estuary was estimated from the data by ordinary kriging. ► Analysis of a multiple lines of evidence indicated significant triclosan contributions from non-local sources. ► This research describes factors controlling triclosan distribution and accumulation in estuarine environments.