Phthalate release in leachate from municipal landfills of central Poland

Abstract

Phthalate diesters (PAEs) are used as plasticizer additives to polymer chains to make the material more flexible and malleable. PAEs are bonded physically, not chemically, to the polymeric matrix and can migrate to and leach from the product surface, posing a serious danger to the environment and human health. There have been a number of studies on PAE concentrations in landfill leachate conducted in the EU and around the world, though few in Poland. In the present study, the leachate of five municipal landfills was analyzed for the presence of PAEs. Raw leachate was sampled four times over the period of one year in 2015/16. It was the first large study on this subject in Poland. PAEs were detected in the leachate samples on all of the landfills, thereby indicating that PAEs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The following PAEs were detected in at least one sample: Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Dimethyl phthalate (DMP), Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), Di-isobutylphthalate (DIBP). Out of all ten PAEs, DEHP was the most predominant, with concentrations up to 73.9 μg/L. DEHP was present in 65% of analyzed samples (in 100% of samples in spring, 80% in winter, and 40% in summer and autumn). In only 25% of all samples DEHP was below the acceptable UE limit for surface water (1.3 μg/L), while 75% was from 1.7 to 56 times higher than that value. On the two largest landfills DEHP concentrations were observed during samples from all four seasons, including on a landfill which has been remediated and closed for the last 5 years.

Landfill leachates and wastewater of maritime origin as possible sources of endocrine disruptors in municipal wastewater

“…According to this and other studies, DEHP, which was classified as a Category 1B reprotoxin by the European Union’s REACH legislation, is the most frequently observed PAE in LLs (Asakura et al 2004; Zhang and Wang 2009). Wowkonowicz and Kijeńska (2017) detected DEHP < 1.3 to 73.9 μg/L and DMP < 0.6 to 1.98 μg/L to 4.72 μg/L in LLs generated by an old cell located in central Poland. Kalmykova et al (2013) reported that DEHP concentrations in LL samples ranged from < 1.0 to 23 μg/L and that DEP concentrations ranged from < 0.10 to 22 μg/L, while DnOP and DnBP were not detected.…”

The Action of Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) in Mouse Cerebral Cells Involves an Impairment in Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) Signaling

“…Due to the unbound nature of the polymer, DEHP can easily leach from products (Pearson and Trissel 1993 ). DEHP pollutes the environment and is detected in samples from soil, indoor air, water, plants, and human foods (Tran et al 2017 ; Wowkonowicz and Kijeńska 2017 ). For the human population, the main source of DEHP for can be found in contaminated food with which DEHP comes into contact during the production process (Fierens et al 2012 ; Heinemeyer et al 2013 ).…”

New Analytical Method for Determination of Phthalates in Wastewater by on Line LC-GC-MS Using the TOTAD Interface and Fraction Collector

“…Jonsson et al (2003) found PAEs in 11 of 17 landfill leachates analyzed in Europe [26], and Bauer et al (1997) in all the leachates analyzed from Bavarian landfills [24]. In leachates from landfill in Japan [25] and in Poland [28], PAEs were found in all the leachates measured, DEHP being found in the highest most concentrations. Gao and Wen (2016) also pointed out that DEHP concentrations were the highest, while DEP and DMP were presented in a relatively low concentration [29].…”