Air–Sea Exchange and Atmospheric Deposition of Phthalate Esters in the South China Sea

Abstract

Phthalate esters (PAEs) have been investigated in paired air and seawater samples collected onboard the research vessel SONNE in the South China Sea in the summer of 2019. The concentrations of ∑7PAEs ranged from 2.84 to 24.3 ng/m3 with a mean of 9.67 ± 5.86 ng/m3 in air and from 0.96 to 8.35 ng/L with a mean of 3.05 ng/L in seawater. Net air-to-seawater deposition dominated air–sea exchange fluxes of DiBP, DnBP, DMP, and DEP, while strong water-to-air volatilization was estimated for bis­(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). The estimated net atmospheric depositions were 3740 t/y for the sum of DMP, DEP, DiBP, and DnBP, but DEHP volatilized from seawater to air with an average of 900 t/y. The seasonally changing monsoon circulation, currents, and cyclones occurring in the Pacific can significantly influence the concentration of PAEs, and alter the direction and magnitude of air–sea exchange and particle deposition fluxes. Consequently, the dynamic air–sea exchange process may drive the transport of PAEs from marginal seas and estuaries toward remote marine environments, which can play an important role in the environmental transport and cycling of PAEs in the global ocean.

Mitochondrial DNA Stress-Mediated Health Risk to Dibutyl Phthalate Contamination on Zebrafish (Danio rerio) at Early Life Stage

“…As it is physically not chemically bound to the polymeric matrix, DBP can be easily released into environmental matrices during manufacturing, application, and disposal processes . Measurable concentrations of DBP accumulate in the air, water, and soil as a result of urbanization and industrialization over time. Particularly, DBP contamination is serious in developing countries, the DBP content is as high as 95, 213, 1028, and 2705 μg/L, respectively, in the Zhenjiang inner river of China, Indian surface water, Port Elizabeth harbor of South Africa, and Ogun River catchments of Nigeria .…”

Non-Phthalate Ester Plasticizers in Airborne Fine Particles from Chinese Cities: Broad Distributions and Spatiotemporal Trends

“…Airborne fine particles become a sink of volatile and semivolatile organic chemicals, and also constitute an important source of environmental contaminants to human exposure. − Previous studies reported ubiquitous occurrences of PAEs in atmospheric fine particles (e.g., PM 2.5 , particles with aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 μm), , and the links between airborne PAE exposure and adverse health effects. , Therefore, utilization of airborne fine particles to explore contamination profiles of non-PAE plasticizers not only becomes an efficient approach to understand their environmental distributions but also lays the ground for human health risk assessments.…”