Inter University Centre for Development of Marine Biotechnology, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682016, India.
CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography, Regional Centre-Kochi, 682018, India.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2020 Mar;152:110899. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.110899. Epub 2020 Jan 22.
Distribution and ecological risks of Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are poorly studied in estuarine environments in India. An attempt is made to chart the sources and assess the ecological risk of six PAE congeners (∑PAEs), present in dissolved and particulate forms in a tropical ecosystem (Cochin Estuary, India). Terrestrial input, as attested by a clear seasonality with substantial enrichment during monsoon (2-28 μg/L and 31-1203 μg/g; dissolved and particulate PAEs respectively) and post-monsoon (1-7 μg/L and 7-321 μg/g; dissolved and particulate PAEs respectively), was identified as the primary source. DnBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEHP (diethylhexyl phthalate) were found to be the dominant species except for dissolved PAEs at pre-monsoon season. Statistical analysis identified two major clusters, in the ∑PAEs, composed of medium to high molecular weight PAEs (derived from plastic products) and low molecular weight PAEs (derived from cosmetic products). Calculated Risk Quotient (RQ) indicated values indicated moderate to high ecological risk for DnBP and DEHP congeners is a grim pointer to their detrimental effects on human health through consumption of contaminated organisms. Although substantial enrichment of suspended matter gets flushed out of the estuary during monsoon, there is a net PAE accumulation in the estuary during post-monsoon following an increased sedimentary restitution. Data of PAEs generated herein raises a challenge for immediate enactment of statutory legislation to curb and regulate hazardous contamination of estuaries by phthalic acid esters.
印度河口环境中邻苯二甲酸酯（PAEs）的分布和生态风险研究甚少。本研究试图绘制印度热带生态系统（科钦河口）中溶解态和颗粒态六种邻苯二甲酸酯同系物（∑PAEs）的来源，并评估其生态风险。陆地输入（表现为季风期明显的季节性，且富集会大量增加）被认为是主要的来源，其浓度分别为 2-28μg/L 和 31-1203μg/g（溶解态和颗粒态 PAEs）以及季风后（1-7μg/L 和 7-321μg/g；溶解态和颗粒态 PAEs）。除了季风前季节的溶解态 PAEs 外，DnBP（邻苯二甲酸二丁酯）和 DEHP（邻苯二甲酸二（2-乙基）己酯）是主要的同系物。统计分析确定了∑PAEs 中的两个主要聚类，由中高分子量 PAEs（源自塑料制品）和低分子量 PAEs（源自化妆品）组成。计算的风险商（RQ）表明，DnBP 和 DEHP 同系物的风险值表明存在中度到高度的生态风险，这表明它们通过食用受污染的生物对人类健康有潜在的危害。尽管大量的悬浮物在季风期被冲出河口，但在季风后，由于沉积物的补偿增加，河口内的 PAE 会有净积累。本研究提供的 PAEs 数据表明，需要立即制定法规立法，以遏制和规范河口地区邻苯二甲酸酯的危险污染。
