We investigated the occurrence, spatial, and vertical distributions of 63 pharmaceutical compounds and six artificial sweeteners from the sea surface microlayer (SML) to five different depths (0 cm, 20 cm, 50 cm, 100 cm, and 150 cm) of the corresponding underlying waters in four stations of the North Sea. One station is a coastal area (Jade Bay), one station is an estuary (Bremerhaven), and the other two stations (NS_7 and NS_8) are open coastal waters. We will refer to each environment with the name in brackets throughout this publication. We collected seawater samples vertically from these stations and analyzed them using ultra-performance liquid chromatography - triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in tandem with ionization spray (UPLC-QqQMS/MS) (Bruker EVOQ Elite system Bruker, USA) at the Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Cádiz.
Cruise AL548 (R/V Alkor) sampled the water column in German territorial waters of the southwest Baltic Sea during 04-16 November 2020. This dataset contains concentrations of dissolved munition compounds from 73 Niskin bottle rosette casts between sea surface and seafloor. Vertical sampling resolution varied among stations, with a maximum of 5 sampling depths. Dissolved explosives in the samples were measured following Gledhill et al. (2019). Briefly, discrete samples (1 L) were preconcentrated onboard using solid-phase extraction. Target compounds were eluted with acetonitrile, further concentrated by evaporation, and measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and high resolution heated electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
Cruise POS530 (R/V Poseidon) sampled the water column throughout German territorial waters of the southwest Baltic Sea during 01-21 October 2018. The current dataset contains concentrations of dissolved munition compounds from Niskin bottle rosette casts between sea surface and seafloor. Vertical sampling resolution varied among stations, with a maximum of 9 sampling depths. Dissolved explosives in the samples were measured following Gledhill et al. (2019). Briefly, discrete samples (1 L) were preconcentrated onboard using solid-phase extraction. Target compounds were eluted with acetonitrile, further concentrated by evaporation, and measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and high resolution heated electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.