A wide range of chemicals derived from modern industrial activities and human lifestyles are continuously introduced into aquatic environments through use, leaching, and degradation processes. Due to their high affinity for aquatic systems and environmental stability, such compounds have the potential for long-range transport. Arctic environments, subject to low temperatures and repeated freeze-thaw cycles, are particularly susceptible to the accumulation and remobilization of contaminants. Nevertheless, the occurrence and environmental behavior of emerging contaminants in this region remain poorly understood. In this study, a field sampling campaign was conducted from July 1 to 10, 2026, along the Norwegian Arctic coast, collecting samples from 32 seawater sites and 13 freshwater sites. Sampling locations spanned yacht and boat marinas near Tromsø, Hammerfest, Narvik, and the Lofoten Islands, as well as surface waters from major rivers including the Altaelva, Lakselva, and Målselva. Reference samples were collected from anthropogenically undisturbed areas (e.g., Prestvannet ecological wetland). All samples were processed within 2 hours via glass fiber filtration and solid-phase extraction, and the dried cartridges were transported to an analytical laboratory in Korea for LC-HRMS-based non-target screening. Preliminary results revealed the greatest chemical diversity at sites near yacht marinas in the Gravdal and Tromsø areas, and at the Altaelva River. Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) were broadly detected as homologous series patterns, and the organophosphate plasticizer and flame retardant TBEP (tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate) was identified alongside various biocides and multiple PFASs. Many of these substances pose multiple hazards including aquatic toxicity, endocrine disruption, and carcinogenicity. The mobility of the detected compounds is supported by their physicochemical properties. PEGs (log Kow < 0) exhibit extreme hydrophilicity, partitioning almost entirely into the dissolved water phase with negligible sediment adsorption. TBEP, while moderately hydrophobic (log Kow = 3.75), demonstrates substantial aqueous solubility (~1,100 mg/L) and a low log Koc (≈ 2.6), consistent with its documented persistence and mobility in aquatic environments. PFASs, owing to their structural stability arising from the high bond energy of C-F bonds, exhibit strong resistance to biological and chemical degradation, rendering them prone to detection even in remote polar aquatic environments. This study is expected to provide foundational scientific data on the occurrence and long-range transport potential of hydrophilic emerging contaminants in Arctic environments, supporting future environmental risk assessments for this sensitive ecosystem.

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