Status of phthalate esters contamination in agricultural soils across China and associated health risks

Lili Niu; Yang Xu; Chao Xu; Lingxiang Yun; Weiping Liu

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2014.08.014

Status of phthalate esters contamination in agricultural soils across China and associated health risks

Environ Pollut. 2014 Dec:195:16-23. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.08.014. Epub 2014 Sep 3.

Authors

Lili Niu¹, Yang Xu¹, Chao Xu², Lingxiang Yun¹, Weiping Liu³

Affiliations

¹ International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
² IJRC-PTS, College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China.
³ International Joint Research Center for Persistent Toxic Substances (IJRC-PTS), MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: wliu@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 25194267
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.08.014

Abstract

The extensive utilization of phthalate-containing products has lead to ubiquitous contamination of phthalate esters (PAEs) in various matrices. However, comprehensive knowledge of their pollution in Chinese farmland and associated risks is still limited. In this study, 15 PAEs were determined in soils from agricultural fields throughout the Mainland China. The concentrations of Σ15PAEs were in the range of 75.0-6369 μg kg(-1). Three provinces (i.e., Fujian, Guangdong and Xinjiang, China) showed the highest loadings of PAEs. Bis(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was found as the most abundant component and contributed 71.5% to the ∑15PAEs. The major source of PAEs in arable soils was associated with the application of agricultural plastic films, followed by the activities for soil fertility. Furthermore, the non-cancer and carcinogenic risks of target PAEs were estimated. The hazard indexes (HIs) of PAEs in all samples were below 1 and the carcinogenic risk levels were all within 10(-4). Results from this study will provide valuable information for Chinese agricultural soil management and risk avoidance.

Keywords: Agricultural soil; Human health risk; Phthalate ester; Potential source; Spatial distribution.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Agriculture*
China
Environmental Exposure / analysis
Environmental Exposure / statistics & numerical data*
Environmental Pollution / statistics & numerical data
Esters / analysis
Humans
Phthalic Acids / analysis*
Plastics / analysis
Risk Assessment
Soil / chemistry*
Soil Pollutants / analysis*

Substances

Esters
Phthalic Acids
Plastics
Soil
Soil Pollutants
phthalic acid