title: Phthalate esters and organochlorine pesticides in agricultural soils and vegetables from fast-growing regions: a case study from eastern China.
abstract: The present study investigated phthalate esters (PAEs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in agricultural soils and vegetables from eastern China. The concentrations of PAEs ranged from 109 to 5560 ng/g in soils and 60.1 to 2390 ng/g in cabbages, with average concentrations of 946 and 601 ng/g, respectively. The concentrations of OCPs ranged from <0.1 to 662 ng/g in soils and <0.1 to 42.8 ng/g in cabbages, with average concentrations of 134 and 11.6 ng/g, respectively. OCPs were mainly in the 0-30 cm surface soil layers, while PAEs could infiltrate in deep soil profiles to 70-80 cm layer. Potential source analysis traced the occurrence of OCPs to both historical application and current usage, whereas building materials and agricultural plastic film were possible input sources of PAEs in the ambient environment. OCPs showed no apparent effect on soil microbial communities, whereas significant negative relationship was observed between PAEs and fungi in soils (R = -0.54, p < 0.01). Human health risk assessment data revealed marginal noncarcinogenic risks and low carcinogenic risks in these soils. Notably, PAEs posed a comparable or higher risk level compared with that of OCPs. This study suggests the need for better regulation on pollution control and management of PAE-elevated sites to protect soil quality and food safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.|Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jianteng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Daniel C W
authors.initials: DCW
authors.lastname: Tsang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China.
authors.forename: Zhiheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China. zlz@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lizhong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. cexdli@polyu.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Xiangdong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D002681:China; D057217:Economic Development; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004952:Esters; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis*; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology / Q000592:standards; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004952:Esters; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C032279:phthalic acid
keywords: Microbial community; Organochlorine pesticides; Phthalate esters; Plant accumulation; Soil profile