Organophosphate esters in surface soils from a heavily urbanized region of Eastern China: Occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk assessment

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2021-12, Vol.291, p.118200-118200, Article 118200
• Main Authors: Tang, Jianfeng, Sun, Jing, Ke, Ziyan, Yin, Hongling, Yang, Lei, Yen, Haw, Li, Xinhu, Xu, Yaoyang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Human activity; Organophosphate esters; Population density; Risk assessment; Urban soil
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118200

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) pose increasing concerns for their widespread distribution in soil environments and potential threat to human health. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and associated risks of seven OPEs in surface soils and the potential influence of human activities on soil OPE contamination in a heavily urbanized region of the Yangtze River Delta in Eastern China. All target OPEs were detected in the soil samples (100% of samples) reflecting their widespread distribution in the study region. The total OPE concentration (the sum of the seven OPEs) ranged from 162.7 to 986.0 ng/g on a dry weight basis, with a mean value of 469.3 ± 178.6 ng/g. Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate was the main compound, accounting for 67–78% of the total OPE concentration. Ecological risk assessment showed that tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate, tris(2,3-dichloropropyl) phosphate, tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate posed a medium potential risk to terrestrial biota (0.1