Characterization of natural and anthropogenic dissolved organic matter in the yangtze river basin using FT-ICR MS

•A workflow for DOM identification was developed by FT-ICR MS.•1099 compounds were tentatively identified among 9557 DOM molecular formulas.•Innovatively, natural and anthropogenic organics accounted for 85 % and 15 % of DOM.•The majority of identified endogenous and exogenous organics were lipids and PPCPs. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a complex mixture that plays a crucial role in global carbon cycling and climate dynamics. Understanding the chemical composition of DOM is crucial for studying its biogeochemical behavior. However, identifying individual DOM molecules is challenging. Here, using ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and an in-house database, we developed a framework to investigate DOM characteristics in natural water. Through the developed approach, we successfully identified thousands of individual DOM molecules in the water bodies of the Yangtze River Basin. For the first time, the proportions of natural and anthropogenic organics within DOM were revealed. In total, 9006 unambiguous molecular formulas were assigned to DOM in the Yangtze River Basin. The proportions of CHNO and CHOS compounds increased from upstream to downstream regions. Moreover, 1099 DOM compounds were tentatively identified, with 85 % being endogenous organics and 15 % being exogenous organics. Notably, lipids and pharmaceuticals and personal care products were the most frequently detected endogenous and exogenous compounds. The spatial variation of the identified DOM indicated anthropogenic discharges considerably increased both the number and abundance of DOM in the downstream Yangtze River Basin. This study highlighted the importance of anthropogenic impacts on DOM in water. [Display omitted]