Contamination And Environmental Risk Of Phthalate Esters In Typical Areas, China

Phthalate (Phthalate esters, PAEs) is a typical environmental hormones pollutants known as titanate. Most phthalates have estrogen effect. Animal secretion and synthesis of sex hormones synthesized is disturbed. Biological growth is affected. PAEs are widely used in plastics and other industries with being often used as a plasticizer. In recent years, a large number of domestic and international studies have reported the existence of PAEs in the environment. However, research on environmental pollution of PAEs in the feature industry is limited, and these regions are likely to be seriously contaminated by PAEs. Therefore, a typical waste plastic recycling and a children’s clothing processing were selected as the study area. Contamination levels, the homologs composition and possible sources of PAEs to be analyzed, and health risks and ecological risks are evaluated, in order to provide a scientific basis for PAEs pollution control and risk management in China.Levels and distributions of phthalate esters (PAEs) were investigated in surface soils from a typical waste plastic recycling area in Hebei, China. The results showed that the concentrations of total PAEs ranged from 0.321 to 43.3μg/g with a mean value of 6.26μg/g. Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) was the dominant congener (representing 67.6 of the total PAEs) in the study soils, followed by diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Source assessment indicated that the emission from waste plastic recycling was a major contributor to PAEs in the soils. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of six congeners, i.e., including dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and di-n-octylo-phthalate, being classed as priority pollutants by US EPA and European Union, were estimated through the main pathways:ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact. The carcinogenic risks to adults and children from exposure to soil DEHP exceeded the acceptable level.The contamination features and ecotoxicological risks of phthalate esters (PAEs) in sediments from a waste plastic recycling area in Hebei were investigated. The results showed that the concentrations of 16 congeners of PAEs ranged from 0.527 to 102 μg/g. With a mean concentration of 18.9 μg/g, DEHP was the most dominant congener, representing 66.6% of the total PAEs observed in the sediments. Source assessment indicated that the PAEs in the sediments were mainly derived from inputs from poorly controlled plastic waste recycling operations in this area. The concentrations of DEHP and DBP exceeded the Environmental Risk Limits (ERLs) and the concentrations of DIBP exceeded content limits of sediments in Washington separately. The risk levels from exposure to DBP and DEHP in sediment were unacceptable for fish and algae, respectively, which should be of great concern.The results indicated that the concentrations of total PAEs ranged from 0.186 to 16.0 μg/g with a median value of 1.12 μg/g and a mean value of 0.421 μg/g in the soils from the children’s clothing processing. DEHP was the most dominant congener with a mean of 0.800 μg/g, representing 65.4% of the total PAEs observed in the soils. Source assessment indicated that the PAEs in the soils were mainly derived from textile dye additives, and may also be affected by PVC (polyvinyl chloride) fabric. Human health risks show that adults and children from exposure to soil DEHP exceeded the acceptable level.The results showed that the concentrations of 16 congeners of PAEs ranged from 1.11 to 18.6 μg/g with a mean concentration of 6.05 μg/g in the dust from the children’s clothing processing. DEHP was the most dominant congener, ranged from 0.713-17.0 μg/g, with a mean of 4.80 μg/g, representing 78.0% of the total PAEs observed in the dust. The main source of PAEs was automobile tires, followed by textile dye additives, and may also be affected by PVC products. The non-carcinogenic risks and carcinogenic risks to adults and children from exposure to dust PAEs don’t exceeded the acceptable level.