Qi Zenghua, Deng Weicong, Hu Lanlan, Zhou Yinfeng, Wang Xutao, Zhang Yafeng, Yu Yingxin
Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
Eco-Environmental Monitoring and Research Center, Pearl River Valley and South China Sea Ecology and Environment Administration, MEE, Guangzhou, 510610, China.
Environ Pollut. 2025 Feb 15;367:125633. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125633. Epub 2025 Jan 2.
The industrialization and urbanization along the Pearl River Delta (PRD) have exacerbated the issue of pollution in aquatic environments by organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). Historical cumulative pollution from legacy OPFRs, combined with newly emerging OPFRs, has increased the severity and complexity of OPFR pollution in this region. We explored the contamination profile, input flux and risk of legacy and emerging OPFRs in surface waters and in sediment samples of the PRD. The results indicated that all OPFRs we targeted were detectable in the water samples; The sum concentration of OPFRs in the water ranged from 17.35 ng/L to 673.30 ng/L, with an average level of 215.11 ng/L; In sediments it ranged from 5.68 ng/g to 802.46 ng/g dry weight (dw). Tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCPP, 99.58 ng/L) and Bisphenol A diphenyl phosphate (BDP, 51.09 ng/g dw) were the most abundant OPFRs in the surface water and sediment, respectively. Notably, although Tetrekis (2-chlorethyl) dichloroisopentyl-diphosphate (V6) has only been used in recent years, its relatively high concentrations and proportions, both in water and sediment samples, demonstrate its now widespread occurrence in the PRD. The estimated annual flux of ΣOPFRs from the eight estuaries to the South China Sea was 45.04 t/y. The four estuaries (Humen, Modaomen, Hengmen and Honqimen) contribute 80% of the mass loading. Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP) and Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) in water posed relatively higher ecological risks to algae, daphnia, and fish than other OPFRs. Our results provide scientific support for continuing monitoring and control of OPFR pollution in the PRD.
珠江三角洲（PRD）的工业化和城市化加剧了有机磷酸酯阻燃剂（OPFRs）对水生环境的污染问题。传统OPFRs的历史累积污染，加上新出现的OPFRs，增加了该地区OPFR污染的严重程度和复杂性。我们探究了珠江三角洲地表水和沉积物样本中传统和新兴OPFRs的污染状况、输入通量及风险。结果表明，我们所检测的所有OPFRs在水样中均能被检测到；水中OPFRs的总浓度范围为17.35纳克/升至673.30纳克/升，平均水平为215.11纳克/升；沉积物中OPFRs的浓度范围为5.68纳克/克至802.46纳克/克干重（dw）。磷酸三（2-氯异丙基）酯（TCPP，99.58纳克/升）和双酚A二苯基磷酸酯（BDP，51.09纳克/克干重）分别是地表水和沉积物中含量最高的OPFRs。值得注意的是，尽管四（2-氯乙基）二氯异戊基二磷酸酯（V6）近年来才开始使用，但其在水和沉积物样本中的浓度及占比相对较高，表明其在珠江三角洲已广泛存在。估计八个河口向南海排放的ΣOPFRs年通量为45.04吨/年。四个河口（虎门、磨刀门、横门和洪奇门）贡献了80%的质量负荷。水中的磷酸三苯酯（TPHP）和磷酸三（2-氯乙基）酯（TCEP）对藻类、水蚤和鱼类构成的生态风险相对高于其他OPFRs。我们的研究结果为持续监测和控制珠江三角洲的OPFR污染提供了科学依据。
