Gridded emission inventory of organophosphorus flame retardants in China and inventory validation

The bioaccumulation and adverse effects of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) on human health have become a global concern. China produces the largest amount of OPFRs globally and has the highest global market share. However, little is known about its emission level and environmental cycling, thereby causing uncertainties in the assessment of the environmental and health impacts of OPFRs. We developed a gridded annual OPFRs emission inventory at 1/4 degrees longitude by 1/4 degrees latitude resolution over China from 2014 to 2018. The results show that the annual OPFRs emissions increased from approximately 670 tons/yr in 2014 to 1000 tons/yr in 2018 in China. Higher OPFR emissions were identified in Jiangxi, Shandong, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH), Yangtze River Delta (YRD), and Pearl River Delta (PRD). In total, 2400 tons of OPFRs were released into the atmosphere during the multi-year period, in which production accounting for 56.6% of total OPFR emissions in China. An atmospheric transport model, the Canadian Model for Environmental Transport of Organochlorine Pesticides (CanMETOP), was employed to verify the gridded emission inventory and elucidate the atmospheric environmental fate of OPFRs. Modeled OPFRs in the air and soil agreed reasonably well with observed data, suggesting that the developed inventory was, to a large extent, reliable. The modeled atmospheric and surface soil concentrations of OPFRs across China ranged from 0 to 119 ng/m3 and 0 to 428 ng/g, respectively. East China is subjected to more intense OPFR contamination than the rest of the country. The results provide a valuable dataset and assessment of OPFRs, which may aid policy-makers and the scientific community in developing emission control strategies and evaluating the health and environmental consequences of OPFRs in China.

Automated summary

The study highlights China's significant role in global production and emission of OPFRs, with emissions increasing over the years. Higher emissions were identified in specific regions such as Jiangxi, Shandong, BTH, YRD, and PRD, with East China experiencing more intense contamination. The developed emission inventory was deemed reliable based on model-data comparisons.