Butyltins, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated biphenyls in sediments and bivalve mollusks in a mid-latitude environment from the Patagonian coastal zone

s (BTs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were assessed in a mid-latitude environment of the Patagonian coast, distant from significant pollutant sources. Bioaccumulation processes through bottom sediment resuspension were suggested by BTs level (expressed as ng of tin [Sn] g–1 dry wt) found in surface sediment (<limit of detection [LOD]–166.5 ng [Sn] g–1 dry wt) and bivalve mollusks (29.4–206.0 ng [Sn] g–1 dry wt); whereas imposex incidence was only 15% in the gastropod Pareuthria plumbea collected near a harbor. Low hydrocarbon pollution was found in sediments and bivalves with ∑PAHs(16) ranging from <LOD to 94.9 ng g–1 dry weight and from <LOD to 54.9 ng g−1 dry weight, respectively. Values were typical of locations distant from pollutant sources and showed different compositional patterns for both substrates. However, concentrations for some individual PAHs in sediments were found over the threshold effect level. On average, ΣPCB did not exceed the sediment quality guidelines being 0.57 ± 0.88 ng g–1 dry weight in sediments and 0.41 ± 0.26 ng g−1 dry weight in bivalves. Average ΣOCPs in sediments were 0.53 ± 0.34 ng g−1 dry weight and ranged from