title: Distribution of organophosphorus flame retardants in sediments from the Pearl River Delta in South China.
abstract: Twelve organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) were identified in the sediments and the sediment core collected from the rivers and the estuary in the Pearl River Delta, with the aim of investigating their spatial and vertical distributions. The concentrations of PFRs ranged from 8.3 to 470 ng/g dry weight with high levels of PFRs in the urban area and the e-waste recycling region. Generally, TPhP, TCPP, TEHP, TCEP, and TBEP were the dominant compounds of the PFRs, the composition of which varied across the different regions, reflecting the different sources of PFRs. In the estuary, the PFRs mainly derived from the Xijiang River and the Shunde sections. Increased concentrations of halogen-containing PFRs have been observed in the upper layers of the sediment core. Conversely, relatively high concentrations of halogen-free PFRs were observed in the lower layers of the sediment core, indicating different usage patterns or environmental behaviors between the halogen and the non-halogen PFRs in the study area.
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Xiao-Xin
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: 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: luoxiaoj@gig.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Xiao-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: 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; College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Bo
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Zong-Rui
authors.initials: ZR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Run-Xia
authors.initials: RX
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: 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.
authors.forename: Bi-Xian
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Mai
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D005411:Flame Retardants / Q000032:analysis*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Organophosphorus flame retardant; Pearl River Delta; Sediment; Sediment core