An overview of current knowledge on organophosphate di-esters in environment: Analytical methods, sources, occurrence, and behavior

Chan Liang; Meng-Xiao Zeng; Xian-Zheng Yuan; Liang-Ying Liu

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167656

An overview of current knowledge on organophosphate di-esters in environment: Analytical methods, sources, occurrence, and behavior

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jan 1:906:167656. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167656. Epub 2023 Oct 7.

Authors

Chan Liang¹, Meng-Xiao Zeng¹, Xian-Zheng Yuan², Liang-Ying Liu³

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China.
² Shandong Key Laboratory of Environmental Processes and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China.
³ Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China. Electronic address: liuliangying@jnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37813257
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167656

Abstract

Organophosphate di-esters (di-OPEs) are highly related to tri-OPEs. The presence of di-OPEs in the environment has gained global concerns, as some di-OPEs are more toxic than their respective tri-OPE compounds. In this study, current knowledge on the analytical methods, sources, environmental occurrence, and behavior of di-OPEs were symmetrically reviewed by compiling data published till March 2023. The determination of di-OPEs in environmental samples was exclusively achieved with liquid chromatography mass spectrometry operated in negative mode. There are several sources of di-OPEs, including industrial production, biotic and abiotic degradation from tri-OPEs under environmental conditions. A total of 14 di-OPE compounds were determined in various environments, including dust, sediment, sludge, water, and atmosphere. The widespread occurrence of di-OPEs suggested that human and ecology are generally exposed to di-OPEs. Among all environmental matrixes, more data were recorded for dust, with the highest concentration of di-OPEs up to 32,300 ng g^-1. Sorption behavior, phase distribution, gas-particle partitioning behavior was investigated for certain di-OPEs. Suggestions on future studies in the perspective of human exposure to and environmental behavior of di-OPEs were proposed.

Keywords: Analytical methods; Environmental behavior; Environmental occurrence; Organophosphate di-ester; Sources.

Publication types

Review