Concentrations and distribution of phthalate esters in the seamount area of the Tropical Western Pacific Ocean

Qian Zhang; Jinming Song; Xuegang Li; Quancai Peng; Huamao Yuan; Ning Li; Liqin Duan; Jun Ma

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.015

Concentrations and distribution of phthalate esters in the seamount area of the Tropical Western Pacific Ocean

Mar Pollut Bull. 2019 Mar:140:107-115. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.015. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Authors

Qian Zhang¹, Jinming Song², Xuegang Li¹, Quancai Peng¹, Huamao Yuan¹, Ning Li¹, Liqin Duan¹, Jun Ma¹

Affiliations

¹ CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China.
² CAS Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China; Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266237, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China. Electronic address: jmsong@qdio.ac.cn.

PMID: 30803624
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.01.015

Abstract

A total of 14 phthalate esters (PAEs) were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to better understand its occurrence and distribution in seawater samples of M2 seamount in the Tropical Western Pacific Ocean (TWPO). The concentrations of ΣPAEs in the seawater ranged from 12.13 ng L^-1 to 60.69 ng L^-1 (av. 28.86 ng L^-1), dominated by dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2‑ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP). ΣPAEs concentrations in the southwest of the seamount were lower than those in the northeast, with the minima appearing above the seamount summit. Current-seamount interaction was reckoned to be the principal driving factors in the distribution of PAEs. DEHP posed a medium risk in seawater, suggesting that marine plastic pollution has become an urgent environmental issue that calls for more attention and actions. Microplastics leaching and atmospheric deposition might be the potential sources of PAEs.

Keywords: Distribution; Influencing factors; Phthalate esters; Seamount; Tropical Western Pacific Ocean.

MeSH terms

China
Dibutyl Phthalate / analogs & derivatives*
Dibutyl Phthalate / analysis
Diethylhexyl Phthalate / analysis*
Environmental Monitoring / methods*
Pacific Ocean
Seawater / chemistry*
Tropical Climate
Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

Water Pollutants, Chemical
Dibutyl Phthalate
Diethylhexyl Phthalate
diisobutyl phthalate