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

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 195; pp. 16 - 23
• Main Authors: Niu, Lili, Xu, Yang, Xu, Chao, Yun, Lingxiang, Liu, Weiping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier 01.12.2014
• Subjects: agricultural land; agricultural soils; Agriculture; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Applied sciences; arable soils; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogens; China; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Environmental Pollution - statistics & numerical data; Esters; Esters - analysis; Exact sciences and technology; Farming; Farms; Humans; Medical sciences; Phthalates; Phthalic Acids - analysis; plastic film; Plastics - analysis; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Risk; Risk Assessment; risk management; Soil - chemistry; Soil and sediments pollution; soil fertility; soil management; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soils; Asia; China; China, People's Rep., Xinjiang; China, People's Rep., Fujian; Endocrine disruptor; Agricultural soil; Phthalate ester; Soil pollution; Plastic mulching; Phthalates; Carcinogen; Ester; Spatial distribution; Health and environment; Risk assessment; Health hazards; Pollution source inventory; Poison; Agriculture; Human health risk; Mulching; Risk management; Public health; Potential source; Organic compounds; Concentration distribution; Anthropogenic factor
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.08.014

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.