Levels and distributions of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in sediment from Taihu Lake, China

The concentrations and distribution of seven organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers (OPs) were investigated in 28 sediment samples collected from Taihu Lake. The analytes were ultrasonically extracted, enriched using solid-phase extraction, and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results indicated that the analytes were all detected in the sediments. The total concentrations of seven OPs ranged from 3.38 to 14.25 mu g/kg, and tris (2-chloroiso-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), and tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) were the dominant compounds, with concentrations ranging from < limit of quantification to 2.27 mu g/kg, 0.62 to 3.17 mu g/kg, and 1.03 to 5.00 mu g/kg, respectively. The highest concentration of total assessed OPs (14.25 mu g/kg) was found at GH-5, with tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) as the main component at the sampling site. This result implied that there is an obvious emission source nearby at Suzhou City; in addition, human activities also play an important role in the concentration of OPs in the sediment. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2012; 31: 14781484. (C) 2012 SETAC