Distribution characteristics of lipophilic marine phycotoxins in the sediment: A case study in Jiaozhou Bay, China

Marine sediments serve as a sink for environmental pollutants, such as lipophilic marine phycotoxins (LMPs). To reveal the fate of LMPs, we studied their distribution characteristics in sediments. From January 2016 to August 2017, we sampled surface sediments from Jiaozhou Bay (JZB) of the North Yellow Sea, and their solid-phase extracts were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Three LMPs viz. okadaic acid (OA), dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1), and pectentoxin-2 (PTX2) were predominant in the sediments. Also, PTX2 distribution was more extensive in the area, while OA and DTX1 were more concentrated. Having the same toxigenic algae origin, the spatial distribution of OA, DTX1, and PTX2 in the sediments was similar. [Display omitted] •Marine sediments can preserve lipophilic marine toxins (LMPs) produced by toxigenic algae.•OA, DTX1 and PTX2 were the predominant LMP components detected in the sediments of Jiaozhou Bay.•Compared to the widely distributed PTX2, OA and DTX1 had a higher level in marine sediments.•The spatial distribution of OA, DTX1 and PTX2 in sediments of Jiaozhou Bay was roughly homogenous at the same survey period.•The marine sediment is a potential and neglected toxin-source for benthonic invertebrates.