Occurrence, distribution and partitioning of nonionic surfactants and pharmaceuticals in the urbanized Long Island Sound Estuary (NY)

•Surfactant levels were one order of magnitude higher than those for pharmaceuticals.•Concentrations of analytes in seawater were influenced by tides and sampling depth.•Surfactants were found in all suspended solids samples at more than 1μgg−1.•Presence of pharmaceuticals in sewage impacted surface sediments was minimal.•Among all analytes, polyethylene glycols show highest concentrations in sediments. This work deals with the environmental distribution of nonionic surfactants (nonylphenol and alcohol ethoxylates), their metabolites (NP, nonylphenol; NPEC, nonylphenol ethoxycarboxylates; and PEG, polyethylene glycols) and a selection of 64pharmaceuticals in the Long Island Sound (LIS) Estuary which receives important sewage discharges from New York City (NYC). Most target compounds were efficiently removed (>95%) in one wastewater treatment plant monitored, with the exception of NPEC and some specific drugs (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide). Concentrations of surfactants (1.4–4.5μgL−1) and pharmaceuticals (0.1–0.3μgL−1) in seawater were influenced by tides and sampling depth, consistent with salinity differences. Surfactants levels in suspended solids samples were higher than 1μgg−1, whereas only most hydrophobic or positively charged pharmaceuticals could be found (e.g., tamoxifen, clarithromycin). Maximum levels of target compounds in LIS sediments (PEG at highest concentrations, 2.8μgg−1) were measured nearest NYC, sharply decreasing with distance from major sewage inputs.