Organophosphate esters in inland and coastal waters in northern Greece

Highlights: • OPEs were detected in both dissolved and particulate phase. • TBOEP was the most abundant OPE. • OPEs in streams were generally higher than in river and coastal sites • Partition coefficients of OPEs depend on suspended matter in inland waters. • No significant risk regarding OPEs in rivers and coastal waters. The occurrence and distribution of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in inland and coastal waters in Thessaloniki, Greece, were studied during the period 2019-2020. Samples from rivers and streams as well as coastal waters, were analyzed for the presence of 11 OPEs in dissolved and particulate fraction. OPEs were ubiquitous pollutants in the aquatic environment. Concentrations of dissolved fraction of ΣOPEs concentrations ranged from 400 to 2158 ng L^-1 in rivers, 400-1270 in coastal sites and 377-30,560 ng L^-1 in streams. TBOEP showed the highest concentrations followed by TPHP, TNBP and TClPP. Significant particulate fractions were determined for TNBP, TClPP TPHP and TCP. Field partition coefficients in inland waters were dependent on the concentration of total suspended solids. Risk assessment did not show potential threat due to OPEs in rivers and coastal sites, however, potential adverse effects were found in streams.