Organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risk

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are emerging flame retardants widely used in products such as furniture, electronic equipment, construction, and plastics. It has been demonstrated that OPEs are harmful to humans and aquatic organisms, thus posing a threat to ecosystems. Considering that reservoirs are...

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Main Authors: Yi Huang, Yiming Ge, Chenglin Li, Linshen Xie, Xiujuan Qi, Pu Ye, Xixiang Guo, Chen Deng, Rong Hu, Jinling Wang, Yihong Liu, Bei Wang, Tingting Zhu, Shaoyou Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-03-01
Series:Emerging Contaminants
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665024001136
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author Yi Huang
Yiming Ge
Chenglin Li
Linshen Xie
Xiujuan Qi
Pu Ye
Xixiang Guo
Chen Deng
Rong Hu
Jinling Wang
Yihong Liu
Bei Wang
Tingting Zhu
Shaoyou Lu
author_facet Yi Huang
Yiming Ge
Chenglin Li
Linshen Xie
Xiujuan Qi
Pu Ye
Xixiang Guo
Chen Deng
Rong Hu
Jinling Wang
Yihong Liu
Bei Wang
Tingting Zhu
Shaoyou Lu
author_sort Yi Huang
collection DOAJ
description Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are emerging flame retardants widely used in products such as furniture, electronic equipment, construction, and plastics. It has been demonstrated that OPEs are harmful to humans and aquatic organisms, thus posing a threat to ecosystems. Considering that reservoirs are critical sources of drinking water for residents in Southern China, this study quantified nine OPEs in water samples collected from 29 reservoirs and their tributaries. The temporal and spatial distributions of OPEs were analyzed and their ecological risks were assessed. The results showed an extensive presence of OPEs in reservoirs, and the median concentration of Σ9OPEs was much higher in the dry season (65.3 ng/L) than in the wet season (21.3 ng/L). Triisobutyl phosphate (TiBP) (median: 5.24 ng/L) and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) (median: 10.8 ng/L) dominated in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Other OPEs varied considerably in concentrations over time, related to their physical and chemical properties, environmental factors (e.g., precipitation and temperature), and varied applications. Furthermore, the significant correlations of individual OPEs suggest their shared utilization, emission sources, and environmental behaviors. Spatially, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) among the Σ9OPEs concentrations in water samples from different sites (inlet, reservoir, outlet, and tributary) of the reservoirs. Additionally, the concentrations of OPEs in reservoir water samples could be linked to industrial development, economic conditions, and population density. OPEs in the reservoir pose low ecological risks (RQ < 0.1), except for EDHPP and TEHP, which present median ecological risks (RQ = 0.54 and 0.38, respectively). Future studies could investigate more OPEs and their joint effects with other organic pollutants, as well as survey the chemical reactions and degradation pathways of OPEs in different environmental matrices to assess their potential ecotoxicity more comprehensively.
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spelling doaj-art-ac111d0de9d54f75b4c63f949cdde2a92025-08-20T02:17:29ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Emerging Contaminants2405-66502025-03-0111110041210.1016/j.emcon.2024.100412Organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological riskYi Huang0Yiming Ge1Chenglin Li2Linshen Xie3Xiujuan Qi4Pu Ye5Xixiang Guo6Chen Deng7Rong Hu8Jinling Wang9Yihong Liu10Bei Wang11Tingting Zhu12Shaoyou Lu13Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaSchool of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of SunYat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, ChinaDepartment of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drinking Water Source Protection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Emerging Contaminates Detectiction and Control in Water Environment, Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences, Shenzhen, 518001, China; Corresponding author.School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of SunYat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China; Corresponding author.Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are emerging flame retardants widely used in products such as furniture, electronic equipment, construction, and plastics. It has been demonstrated that OPEs are harmful to humans and aquatic organisms, thus posing a threat to ecosystems. Considering that reservoirs are critical sources of drinking water for residents in Southern China, this study quantified nine OPEs in water samples collected from 29 reservoirs and their tributaries. The temporal and spatial distributions of OPEs were analyzed and their ecological risks were assessed. The results showed an extensive presence of OPEs in reservoirs, and the median concentration of Σ9OPEs was much higher in the dry season (65.3 ng/L) than in the wet season (21.3 ng/L). Triisobutyl phosphate (TiBP) (median: 5.24 ng/L) and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) (median: 10.8 ng/L) dominated in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. Other OPEs varied considerably in concentrations over time, related to their physical and chemical properties, environmental factors (e.g., precipitation and temperature), and varied applications. Furthermore, the significant correlations of individual OPEs suggest their shared utilization, emission sources, and environmental behaviors. Spatially, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) among the Σ9OPEs concentrations in water samples from different sites (inlet, reservoir, outlet, and tributary) of the reservoirs. Additionally, the concentrations of OPEs in reservoir water samples could be linked to industrial development, economic conditions, and population density. OPEs in the reservoir pose low ecological risks (RQ < 0.1), except for EDHPP and TEHP, which present median ecological risks (RQ = 0.54 and 0.38, respectively). Future studies could investigate more OPEs and their joint effects with other organic pollutants, as well as survey the chemical reactions and degradation pathways of OPEs in different environmental matrices to assess their potential ecotoxicity more comprehensively.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665024001136Organophosphate estersReservoirsTemporal and spatial distributionEcological risk
spellingShingle Yi Huang
Yiming Ge
Chenglin Li
Linshen Xie
Xiujuan Qi
Pu Ye
Xixiang Guo
Chen Deng
Rong Hu
Jinling Wang
Yihong Liu
Bei Wang
Tingting Zhu
Shaoyou Lu
Organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risk
Emerging Contaminants
Organophosphate esters
Reservoirs
Temporal and spatial distribution
Ecological risk
title Organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risk
title_full Organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risk
title_fullStr Organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risk
title_full_unstemmed Organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risk
title_short Organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risk
title_sort organophosphate esters in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the guangdong hong kong macao greater bay area china and their ecological risk
topic Organophosphate esters
Reservoirs
Temporal and spatial distribution
Ecological risk
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405665024001136
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