Occurrence and distribution of phthalate esters in riverine sediments from the Pearl River Delta region, South China.
Sixty-eight sediment samples collected from Dongjiang River, Xijiang River, Beijiang River and Zhujiang River in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, Southern China, were analyzed for 16 phthalate esters (PAEs). PAEs were detected in all riverine sediments analyzed, which indicate that PAEs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The Σ16PAEs concentrations in riverine sediments in the PRD region ranged from 0.567 to 47.3 μg g(-1) dry weight (dw), with the mean and median concentrations of 5.34 μg g(-1) dw and 2.15 μg g(-1) dw, respectively. Elevated PAEs concentrations in riverine sediments in the PRD region were found in the highly urbanized and industrialized areas. Of the 16 PAEs, diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) dominated the PAEs, with the mean and median concentrations of 1.12 μg g(-1)dw, 0.420 μg g(-1) dw and 3.72 μg g(-1) dw, and 0.429 μg g(-1) dw, 0.152 μg g(-1) dw and 1.55 μg g(-1) dw, respectively, and accounted for 94.2-99.7% of the Σ16PAEs concentrations. Influenced by local sources and the properties of PAEs, a gradient trend of concentrations and a fractionation of composition from more to less industrialized and urbanized areas were discovered. As compared to the results from other studies, the riverine sediments in the PRD region were severely contaminated with PAEs. Information about PAEs contamination status and its effect on the aquatic organisms in the PRD region may deserve further attention.
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Hong
H
Liu
Instrumental Analysis and Research Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Kunyan
K
Cui
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. Electronic address: ceszf@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Feng
F
Zeng
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Lixuan
L
Chen
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Yating
Y
Cheng
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Huiru
H
Li
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Shuocong
S
Li
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Xi
X
Zhou
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Fang
F
Zhu
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Gangfeng
G
Ouyang
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol/MOE Key Laboratory of Aquatic Product Safety, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Tiangang
T
Luan
School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
Zunxiang
Z
Zeng
D002681:China; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000032:analysis; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D004952:Esters; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers; D014507:Urbanization
D004952:Esters; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D003993:Dibutyl Phthalate; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; C025605:diisobutyl phthalate
Distribution; Pearl River Delta; Phthalate esters; Sediment; Sources