Regional Distribution of Atmospheric Organophosphate Tri-/Diesters in the Pearl River Delta: Possible Emission, Photo-degradation, and Atmospheric Transportation

The regional characteristics of atmospheric organophosphate triesters (OPEs) and organophosphate diesters (Di-OPs) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) were investigated by passive air samplers mounting quartz fiber filters. The analytes were found on a regional scale. Atmospheric OPEs, semi-quantified us...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2023-03, Vol.57 (11), p.4415-4423
Main Authors: Zeng, Xiangying, Hu, Qiongpu, Zhang, Jiawen, Song, Qian, Xu, Liang, Liang, Yi, Wu, Yang, Yu, Zhiqiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air sampling
Analytical chemistry
Anthropogenic Impacts on the Atmosphere
China
Diesters
Emission
Emissions
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Esters
Flame Retardants - analysis
Industrial applications
Organophosphates
Phosphate
Phosphates
Photodegradation
Rivers
Samplers
Sampling
Spring
Spring (season)
Summer
Transportation
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Summary:The regional characteristics of atmospheric organophosphate triesters (OPEs) and organophosphate diesters (Di-OPs) in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) were investigated by passive air samplers mounting quartz fiber filters. The analytes were found on a regional scale. Atmospheric OPEs, semi-quantified using sampling rates of particulate-bonded PAHs, were in the range of 537–2852 pg/m3 in spring and in the range of 106–2055 pg/m3 in summer, with tris­(2-chloroethyl)­phosphate (TCEP) and tris­(2-chloroisopropyl)­phosphate as the main components. While atmospheric Di-OPs were semi-quantified using sampling rates of SO4 2–, in the range of 22.5–5576 pg/m3 in spring and in the range of 66.9–1019 pg/m3 in summer, with di-n-butyl phosphate and diphenyl phosphate (DPHP) being the main Di-OPs. Our results indicated that OPEs were mainly distributed in the central part of the region, which might be ascribed to the distribution of industry related to OPE-containing products. In contrast, Di-OPs were scattered in the PRD, suggesting local emission from their direct industrial application. Significantly lower levels of TCEP, triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), and DPHP were detected in summer than in spring, implying that these compounds might be partitioned off particles as the temperature increased and due to possible photo-transformation of TPHP and DPHP. The results also suggested the long-distance atmospheric transportation potential of Di-OPs.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/acs.est.2c06735