title: Occurrence and spatial distribution of organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers in 40 rivers draining into the Bohai Sea, north China.
abstract: Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are alternatives to polybrominated diphenyl ethers, often used as flame-retardants and plasticizers. There are few reports of OPEs in river water. This study focused on the occurrence and spatial distribution of 11 OPE congeners and one synthetic intermediate triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO) in 40 major rivers entering into the Bohai Sea. Total OPEs ranged from 9.6 to 1549 ng L(-1), with an average of 300 ng L(-1). Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) (4.6-921 ng L(-1), mean: 186 ng L(-1)) and tris(2-choroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) (1.3-268 ng L(-1), mean: 80.2 ng L(-1)) were the most abundant OPEs and their distribution patterns are similar, indicating the same source (r = 0.61, P < 0.05) and the influence of large production and consumption of chlorinated OPEs in the region. Priority should be given to TCPP, PCEP and TPPO due to their high concentrations in the rivers and potential threat to aquatic organisms.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS, Yantai 264003, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Runmei
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS, Yantai 264003, China. Electronic address: jhtang@yic.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Jianhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, Institute of Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, Geesthacht 21502, Germany. Electronic address: zhiyong.xie@hzg.de.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, Institute of Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, Geesthacht 21502, Germany.
authors.forename: Wenying
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS, Yantai 264003, China.
authors.forename: Yingjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, Institute of Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, Geesthacht 21502, Germany.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wolschke
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS, Yantai 264003, China.
authors.forename: Chongguo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS, Yantai 264003, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Coastal Environmental Processes and Ecological Remediation, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, CAS, Yantai 264003, China.
authors.forename: Yongming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, Institute of Coastal Research, Max-Planck-Strasse 1, Geesthacht 21502, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ebinghaus
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000032:analysis*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D010968:Plasticizers / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D010755:Organophosphates; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010968:Plasticizers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C063888:triphenylphosphine oxide
keywords: Organophosphate ester; Riverine flux; Surface water; The Bohai Sea