Occurrence and spatial distribution of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in the Bohai, Yellow and East China seas

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2020-11, Vol.741, p.140434-140434, Article 140434
• Main Authors: Zhong, Mingyu, Tang, Jianhui, Guo, Xinyu, Guo, Chao, Li, Fei, Wu, Huifeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chinese marginal sea; Concentrations and distributions; Organophosphate esters; Seasonal variation
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140434

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are man-made organic pollutants that are used in flame retardants (FRs), plasticizers, antifoaming and hydraulic agents, and extractants. The demand for FRs in China has increased, thereby rapidly increasing the use of OPEs and hence resulted in its high levels in the environment. In this study, we measured the concentrations of seven OPE congeners in the seawaters of the Bohai Sea (BS), the Yellow Sea (YS), and the East China Sea (ECS). The horizontal and vertical spatial distributions were then analyzed to assess the OPE pollution. The total concentrations of the seven OPE congeners (ΣOPEs) in the three seas ranged from 7.31 to 100 ng L−1. The main OPE compounds were tris-(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP, 3.97–35.6 ng L−1), tris-(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP, 0.59–19.8 ng L−1), and triphenylphosphine oxide (TPPO, from below the detection limit to 43.5 ng L−1). The inventory of the ΣOPEs in the BS, YS, and ECS was estimated as 54.2, 513, and 3950 tons, respectively. Horizontally, the ΣOPE concentration was ranked as BS > YS > ECS. In the vertical direction, the OPE concentrations in the surface water were higher than those in the bottom water. Ocean currents and riverine inputs might be the main factors influencing the distributions of the OPEs in these seas. Moreover, a seasonal variation (summer 2015 versus winter 2016) in the OPEs was observed in the YS, which was probably due to anthropogenic influences and hydrological, meteorological, and biological factors. [Display omitted] •OPEs were wildly detected in the Bohai (BS), Yellow (YS), and East China Seas (ECS).•OPE inventories were calculated in the BS, YS, and ECS.•Ocean currents and riverine inputs influence the horizontal distribution of OPEs.•River input and water stratification influence the vertical distribution of OPEs.•OPEs showed higher concentrations in winter than in summer in the BS and the YS.