Levels of NP and BPA in the Pearl River Estuary, China: Fluctuations with Country Policy Changes over the Past 40 Years

Abstract

Sediment cores were collected from four outlets in the Pearl River Estuary (Guangdong Province, China) and dated using the 210Pb method to investigate the pollution history of the area due to its relatively stable sedimentation status and hydrographic conditions in recent decades. The ages of the sediment cores were dated over 40 years (1968–2015). The concentrations at the four outlets ranged from 2.21 to 48.52 ng g−1 dw for nonylphenol and were non-detectable for 23.64 ng g−1 dw for bisphenol A (BPA), which exhibited a decreasing trend from north to south as well as seaward. The fluxes (2.84 to 112.91 ng cm−2 yr−1 and non-detectable to 59.33 ng cm−2 yr−1 for nonylphenol and bisphenol A, respectively) stabilized in the 1980s to 1990s due to the construction of sewage treatment systems. The fluxes increased again in the 21st century, which reached a peak ca. 2010 but declined in recent years due to the establishment of regulations and the decreasing number of industrial enterprises. Fluctuations in the pollution composition coincided with industrial development and governmental policies.

Cetaceans as Bioindicators to Assess Alkylphenol Exposure and Hormone-Disrupting Effects in the South China Sea

“…Although concentrations of 4-NP and 4-t-OP in surface waters and sediments in the SCS fall in higher ranges than those in other lakes and rivers in China and around the world, there are very few trend analyses of AP loads in the SCS. Chen et al investigated the 4-NP concentrations in the SCS sediment cores, showing an upward and then a downward trend until the 2010s . Comprehensively comparing the published data (Table S7), − ,− the concentrations of 4-NP in SCS surface waters showed a similar pattern of interannual variation (Figure E).…”

“…Between 2007 and 2021, IPFP concentrations of 4-NP (Figure 5A, F = 6.48, p = 0.017) and 4-t-OP (Figure 5B, F = 4.19, p = 0.018) showed a significant decreasing temporal trend, suggesting that 4-NP and 4-t-OP loadings in the environmental matrix and marine organisms may have continuously decreased around the SCS in past decades. Although concentrations of 4-NP and 4-t-OP in surface waters and sediments in the SCS fall in higher ranges than those in other lakes and rivers in China and around the world, 36 there are very few trend analyses of AP loads in the SCS. Chen et al investigated the 4-NP concentrations in the SCS sediment cores, showing an upward and then a downward trend until the 2010s.…”

Degradation of Bisphenol A by CeCu Oxide Catalyst in Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation: Efficiency, Stability, and Mechanism

“…BPA has biological accumulation, which is relatively stable in the environment. The high hydrophobicity of BPA makes it easy to deposit in sludge after draining into water, and the half-life of BPA in anaerobic sediment is very long, about 70 days [6]. It has shown high toxicity to freshwater and marine species in aquatic organisms in the range of 1000–10,000 μg L −1 [3].…”