Barari Fateme, Farashiani Masoume, Bonyadi Ziaeddin
Student Research Committee, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Sci Total Environ. 2025 Aug 19;998:180262. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180262.
Phthalate esters (PAEs), which are widely used as plasticizers in various industrial processes, pose significant risks to ecosystems and human health as emerging pollutants. This study aimed to compare different methods for extracting PAEs, quantifying their concentrations, and assessing the health risks associated with exposure to these contaminants. Based on the reviewed studies, solid-phase extraction (SPE) was the preferred sample preparation technique in approximately 60 % of cases due to its efficiency, low solvent consumption, and strong enrichment capabilities. Moreover, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was the most commonly used detection method, applied in 78.8 % of the studies for accurate quantification. The reported concentrations of PAEs in river water ranged from 100 to 300,000 ng/L. Studies indicated that di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) were the most frequently detected PAEs, present in 90 % and 91.25 % of river systems, respectively. Peak concentrations were reported as 60 μg/L in water, 41.4 μg/g in sediments, and 1.586 μg/g in aquatic organisms. Studies have indicated that both DEHP and DBP exhibit high Risk Quotient (RQ > 1) values, suggesting significant ecological risks to aquatic organisms. These risks include potential endocrine disruption, growth inhibition, and metabolic dysfunction, as observed in environmental studies. Additionally, some studies have reported high Hazard Quotient (HQ > 1) values for human exposure, indicating possible non-carcinogenic health effects resulting from chronic intake. Effective monitoring and mitigation strategies are essential to minimize the environmental and public health impacts of PAEs. Overall, this review highlights the widespread occurrence and persistence of PAEs in riverine environments, emphasizing their potential to disrupt ecological balance and pose health risks. Continued research, along with stricter regulatory measures, is crucial to control their release and safeguard environmental and human health.
邻苯二甲酸酯（PAEs）作为增塑剂广泛应用于各种工业生产过程中，作为新兴污染物对生态系统和人类健康构成重大风险。本研究旨在比较提取PAEs的不同方法，量化其浓度，并评估接触这些污染物所带来的健康风险。根据综述研究，由于其效率高、溶剂消耗低和富集能力强，固相萃取（SPE）在大约60%的情况下是首选的样品制备技术。此外，气相色谱 - 质谱联用（GC - MS）是最常用的检测方法，78.8%的研究采用该方法进行准确量化。报道的河水中PAEs浓度范围为100至300,000 ng/L。研究表明，邻苯二甲酸二（2 - 乙基己基）酯（DEHP）和邻苯二甲酸二丁酯（DBP）是最常检测到的PAEs，分别存在于90%和91.25%的河流系统中。报道的水中峰值浓度为60 μg/L，沉积物中为41.4 μg/g，水生生物中为1.586 μg/g。研究表明，DEHP和DBP的风险商（RQ > 1）值都很高，表明对水生生物存在重大生态风险。这些风险包括潜在的内分泌干扰、生长抑制和代谢功能障碍，正如在环境研究中所观察到的。此外，一些研究报道了人类接触的高危害商（HQ > 1）值，表明长期摄入可能产生非致癌健康影响。有效的监测和缓解策略对于将PAEs对环境和公众健康的影响降至最低至关重要。总体而言，本综述强调了PAEs在河流环境中的广泛存在和持久性，强调了它们破坏生态平衡和构成健康风险的可能性。持续的研究以及更严格的监管措施对于控制它们的排放和保障环境与人类健康至关重要。
