Comprehensive evaluation of organophosphate ester contamination in surface water and sediment of the Bohai Sea, China

This study investigated the occurrence and profile of 14 organophosphate esters (OPEs) in surface water and sediment of the whole Bohai Sea. A total of 53 pairs of surface water and sediment samples were collected and the contained OPEs were quantified using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The average concentrations of OPEs in surface water and sediment were in the range of 0-92.9 ng/L and 0.001-8.58 ng/g dry weight (dw), respectively, with tri (2-chlomethyl) phosphate (TCEP) as the predominant congener in both compartments. The total concentrations of 14 OPEs (Sigma 14OPEs) in surface water and sediment were in the range of 10.9-516.4 ng/L and 1.42-52.9 ng/g dw, respectively. The inventories of Sigma 14OPEs were calculated to be 179.3 tons in the water and 101.5 tons in the sediment. Based on the risk quotients (RQs), the ecological risks of OPEs to the aquatic organisms in the Bohai Sea were considered to be negligible.

Automated summary

The study investigated the occurrence and distribution of 14 organophosphate esters (OPEs) in surface water and sediment of the whole Bohai Sea. Results showed a wide range of concentrations for OPEs, but the ecological risks to aquatic organisms in the Bohai Sea were considered negligible.