Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of organophosphate esters in mollusks along the coast of South China

Haochuan Wu; Mingling Yu; Jiahui Huang; Qi Zhang; Runlin Yao; Hang Liu; Xiaolong Yu; Ling Jin; Jianteng Sun

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117317

Pollution characteristics and risk assessment of organophosphate esters in mollusks along the coast of South China

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Nov 22:210:117317. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117317. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Haochuan Wu¹, Mingling Yu², Jiahui Huang³, Qi Zhang¹, Runlin Yao², Hang Liu⁴, Xiaolong Yu⁴, Ling Jin², Jianteng Sun⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China; School of Housing, Building and Planning, Universiti Sains Malaysia, George Town 11800, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong.
³ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China. Electronic address: hjh960409@163.com.
⁴ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China.
⁵ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China. Electronic address: sunjianteng@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 39579595
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117317

Abstract

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are emerging pollutants and used extensively in industrial production as alternative to the traditional flame retardants. This study investigated the contamination characteristics and health risks of OPEs in 104 mollusks from 15 cities along the coastal region of South China. Σ8OPEs ranged from 48.2 to 1937 ng/g dw, with a mean value of 295 ng/g dw. TDCIPP, TCPP, and TCEP were the dominant OPEs. Different spatial distributions were observed, with higher concentrations in Guangdong Province. A statistically positive but non-significant linear correlation was found between the trophic level of mollusk and OPEs concentration. The trophic magnification factors were >1, suggesting that OPEs have the potential to biomagnify in mollusks. OPEs in mollusks pose low non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to consumers. This study provides an important basis for managing the safety risks associated with OPEs in mollusks.

Keywords: Mollusks; Organophosphate esters; Risk assessment; South China.