title: Occurrence and distribution of organophosphate triesters and diesters in sludge from sewage treatment plants of Beijing, China.
abstract: The occurrence and distribution of 14 organophosphate (OP) triesters and 5 diesters were investigated in sludge from eight sewage treatment plants (STPs) in Beijing, China, during 2008-2014. Tri(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) and tri-m-cresyl phosphate (TCrP) were the predominant triesters with the average concentration of 233-137 μg/kg, respectively. Also, the polar and hydrophilic trimethyl phosphate (TMP) and triethyl phosphate (TEP) were detected in 19% and 74% of sludge samples, respectively. Three of five diesters were detected in sludge samples, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (DEHP) revealed the highest average concentration of 96.0 μg/kg, followed by diphenyl phosphate (DPhP, 18.0 μg/kg). The levels of OP triesters in sludge varied with the compositions of the sewage and treatment capacity of STPs, as well as the adjacent sources. In comparison with that in the former years, relatively higher concentration of total OP triesters in sludge was observed in 2014, which is consistent with the rapid growth in consumption of these chemicals in China. Finally, environmental risk assessment indicated potential harmful effects of OP triesters on soil microorganisms after sludge landfill or fertilization.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Lihong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: Yali
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Wenhui
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Jiemin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Institute of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China. Electronic address: caiyaqi@rcees.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Yaqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000068476:Beijing; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D010755:Organophosphates / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010755:Organophosphates; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C009549:triethyl phosphate; C003715:trimethyl phosphate
keywords: Distribution; Occurrence; Organophosphate triesters and diesters; Risk assessment; Sludge