The aquatic environments of the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in China have been contaminated by various industrial chemicals from local industries. In this study, the spatial–temporal distribution of six priority phthalate esters (PAEs) in surface water and sediments from the PRD was investigated. The PAEs were detected with total concentrations (Σ6PAEs) ranging from 0.35 to 20.70 μg L−1 in surface water and dry weight ranging from 0.88 to 5.69 μg g−1 in sediments. The Σ6PAEs concentrations in surface water were higher in the wet season than those in the dry season, while the opposite pattern was observed in sediments. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was the most abundant congener, which was higher than those reported in the literature. Risk quotients for relevant aquatic organisms were obtained and showed that most of these PAEs, in particular, butyl benzyl phthalate, DEHP and di-n-octyl phthalate, have significant potential health and ecological risks for the aquatic environment studied.
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Research Article|
December 01 2014
Spatial–temporal distribution of phthalate esters from riverine outlets of Pearl River Delta in China
Ting Li;
Ting Li
1Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Pinghe Yin;
1Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
2Research Center of Analysis and Test, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
E-mail: tyinph@jnu.edu.cn
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Ling Zhao;
Ling Zhao
3Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Environmental Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Guifang Wang;
Guifang Wang
3Key Laboratory of Water/Soil Toxic Pollutants Control and Bioremediation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Environmental Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Qiming Jimmy Yu;
Qiming Jimmy Yu
4Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University, Nathan Campus, Brisbane, Queensland 4111, Australia
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Huanyong Li;
Huanyong Li
2Research Center of Analysis and Test, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Shunshan Duan
Shunshan Duan
5Research Center of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
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Water Sci Technol (2015) 71 (2): 183–190.
Article history
Received:
June 08 2014
Accepted:
November 18 2014
Citation
Ting Li, Pinghe Yin, Ling Zhao, Guifang Wang, Qiming Jimmy Yu, Huanyong Li, Shunshan Duan; Spatial–temporal distribution of phthalate esters from riverine outlets of Pearl River Delta in China. Water Sci Technol 1 January 2015; 71 (2): 183–190. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.485
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