Occurrence, distribution, and ecological risks of phthalate esters in the seawater and sediment of Changjiang River Estuary and its adjacent area

Ze-Ming Zhang; Hong-Hai Zhang; Jing Zhang; Qian-Wen Wang; Gui-Peng Yang

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.070

Occurrence, distribution, and ecological risks of phthalate esters in the seawater and sediment of Changjiang River Estuary and its adjacent area

Sci Total Environ. 2018 Apr 1:619-620:93-102. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.070. Epub 2017 Nov 13.

Authors

Ze-Ming Zhang¹, Hong-Hai Zhang², Jing Zhang², Qian-Wen Wang¹, Gui-Peng Yang³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education, Qingdao/Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China.
² Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education, Qingdao/Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China; Institute of Marine Chemistry, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Marine Chemistry Theory and Technology, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education, Qingdao/Collaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266100, China; Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China; Institute of Marine Chemistry, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China. Electronic address: gpyang@mail.ouc.edu.cn.

PMID: 29145058
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.070

Abstract

A total of 133 seawater samples and 17 sediment samples were collected from 81 sampling sites in the Changjiang River Estuary and its adjacent area and were analyzed for 16 phthalate esters (PAEs). The Σ₁₆ PAE concentrations in the seawater and sediment samples ranged from 180.3ng·L^-1 to 3421ng·L^-1 and from 0.48μg·g^-1 to 29.94μg·g^-1dry weight (dw), respectively, with mean values of 943.6ng·L^-1 and 12.88μg·g^-1. The distribution of ∑₁₆PAE concentrations in the water column showed that PAE concentrations in the bottom samples were higher than those in the surface samples (except the transect C located inside the Changjiang River Estuary), with the maxima appearing in the bottom layer at the offshore stations. Among the 16 PAEs, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), and dibutyl phthalate (DnBP) dominated the PAEs, with 25.1%, 21.1%, and 18.9% of the Σ₁₆PAEs in seawater, respectively. The comparison of ∑₁₆PAEs and salinities in transects C and A6 suggested that the Changjiang River runoff was an important driving factor influencing the distribution of PAEs. DEHP concentrations in water samples and DEHP and DnBP concentrations in sediment samples exceeded the environmental risk levels (ERL), indicating their potential hazard to the ocean environment.

Keywords: Changjiang River Estuary; Distribution; Ecological risks; Phthalate esters; Seawater; Sediment.

MeSH terms

China
Dibutyl Phthalate / analysis
Diethylhexyl Phthalate / analysis
Environmental Monitoring
Esters / analysis*
Estuaries*
Geologic Sediments / chemistry*
Phthalic Acids / analysis*
Rivers
Seawater / chemistry*

Substances

Esters
Phthalic Acids
Dibutyl Phthalate
Diethylhexyl Phthalate