Eco-toxicity and human estrogenic exposure risks from OH-initiated photochemical transformation of four phthalates in water: A computational study.
Transformation products (TPs) of emerging organic contaminates (EOCs) in water are still rarely considered in environmental risk assessment, although some have been found to be concern. OH is believed as an important reactive species both in indirect phototransformation and advanced oxidation technology. Thus, eco-toxicity and human estrogenic exposure risks of four phthalates and TPs during the OH-initiated photochemical process were investigated using computational approach. Four phthalates can be degraded through OH-addition and H-transfer pathways. The OH-addition TPs were predominant for dimethyl phthalates, while H-transfer TPs were predominant for other three phthalates. Compared with phthalates, OH-addition TPs (o-OH-phthalates) were one level more toxic to aquatic organisms, and m-OH-phthalates exhibit higher estrogenic activity. Although H-transfer TPs were less harmful than OH-addition TPs, some of them still have aquatic toxicity and estrogenic activity. Therefore, more attentions should be paid to photochemical TPs and original EOCs, particularly those exhibiting high estrogenic activity to humans.
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Yanpeng
Y
Gao
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China. Electronic address: antc99@gig.ac.cn.
Taicheng
T
An
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
Yuemeng
Y
Ji
State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China.
Guiying
G
Li
MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China. Electronic address: ceszhcy@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
Cunyuan
C
Zhao
D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000187:drug effects*; D019295:Computational Biology; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
D004967:Estrogens; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical; C032279:phthalic acid
Aquatic toxicity; Degradation product; Estrogenic activity; Phthalates; Theoretical calculation