Organic micropollutants such as phthalate, triclosan, octylphenol, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and polychlorinated biphenyl were assessed in sewage dumping coastal area of Tuticorin, southeast coast of India. Nine phthalates were observed in the samples of coastal water and sediment and it ranged from 0.03 to 23.21µg/l and 0.056 to 46.52µg/kg respectively. Triclosan was detected both in water (31.52µg/l) and sediment (85.6µg/kg). Risk Quotient (RQ) values of diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate and triclosan in the water were so high as to cause adverse effects on the aquatic system. But in the sediment, the phthalate concentration was below the USEPA sediment guideline. Traces of octylphenol were observed only in the sediment samples; and the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and poly chlorinated biphenyl were below the detectable level both in water and sediment samples. The screening and risk assessment of these pollutants are proven to be useful for better control and management of organic micropollutant discharges into the coastal waters.
