title: Source determination of benzotriazoles in sediment cores from two urban estuaries on the Atlantic Coast of the United States.
abstract: Benzotriazoles (BZTs) are used in a broad range of commercial and industrial products, particularly as metal corrosion inhibitors and as ultraviolet (UV) light stabilizer additives in plastics and polymers. In this study, dated sediment cores from two east coast estuaries were analyzed for commonly used BZTs. In Narragansett Bay, UV stabilizing BZTs (UV-BZTs) were present at high levels from 1961 on, reflecting their patent date, local production and long-term preservation in sediment. In Salem Sound, UV-BZTs were present at concentrations consistent with other coastal marine locations not influenced by BZT production. Anticorrosive BZTs (AC-BZTs) were found in both cores, with the highest levels reported to date present in Narragansett Bay, indicating sorption to, and preservation in, sediments. This study revealed that both classes of BZTs have remained structurally intact over time in coastal sediment cores, demonstrating their resistance to degradation and persistence in environmental compartments.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA. Electronic address: Cantwell.mark@epa.gov.
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cantwell
authors.affiliation: Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA.
authors.forename: Julia C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.affiliation: Salem State University, Department of Geological Sciences, Salem, MA 01970, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bradford Hubeny
authors.affiliation: University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI 02882, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D014230:Triazoles / Q000032:analysis*; D014481:United States; D014507:Urbanization; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014230:Triazoles; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C012771:benzotriazole
keywords: Benzotriazole; Corrosion inhibitor; Emerging contaminant; Persistent chemical; Sediment core; UV stabilizer