title: Status of phthalate esters contamination in agricultural soils across China and associated health risks.
abstract: The extensive utilization of phthalate-containing products has lead to ubiquitous contamination of phthalate esters (PAEs) in various matrices. However, comprehensive knowledge of their pollution in Chinese farmland and associated risks is still limited. In this study, 15 PAEs were determined in soils from agricultural fields throughout the Mainland China. The concentrations of Σ15PAEs were in the range of 75.0-6369 μg kg(-1). Three provinces (i.e., Fujian, Guangdong and Xinjiang, China) showed the highest loadings of PAEs. Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was found as the most abundant component and contributed 71.5% to the ∑15PAEs. The major source of PAEs in arable soils was associated with the application of agricultural plastic films, followed by the activities for soil fertility. Furthermore, the non-cancer and carcinogenic risks of target PAEs were estimated. The hazard indexes (HIs) of PAEs in all samples were below 1 and the carcinogenic risk levels were all within 10(-4). Results from this study will provide valuable information for Chinese agricultural soil management and risk avoidance.
authors.affiliation: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: IJRC-PTS, College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Lingxiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: wliu@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002681:China; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004952:Esters / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D010969:Plastics; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C032279:phthalic acid
keywords: Agricultural soil; Human health risk; Phthalate ester; Potential source; Spatial distribution