Soil contamination and sources of phthalates and its health risk in China: A review

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 164; pp. 417 - 429
• Main Authors: Lü, Huixiong, Mo, Ce-Hui, Zhao, Hai-Ming, Xiang, Lei, Katsoyiannis, Athanasios, Li, Yan-Wen, Cai, Quan-Ying, Wong, Ming-Hung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.07.2018
• Subjects: CHINA; CROPS; ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; FERTILIZERS; HEALTH HAZARDS; Human exposure; Humans; INGESTION; LAND POLLUTION; PHTHALATES; PHTHALIC ACID ESTERS; Phthalic Acids - analysis; PLASTICS; PUBLIC HEALTH; REVIEWS; RISK ASSESSMENT; Soil Pollutants; Soil pollution; SOILS; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; UPTAKE; VEGETABLES; China; Phthalic acid esters; Spatial distribution; Soil pollution; Uptake; Human exposure
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.03.013

Phthalates (PAEs) are extensively used as plasticizers and constitute one of the most frequently detected organic contaminants in the environment. With the deterioration of eco-environment in China during the past three decades, many studies on PAE occurrence in soils and their risk assessments have been conducted which allow us to carry out a fairly comprehensive assessment of soil PAE contamination on a nation-wide scale. This review combines the updated information available associated with PAE current levels, distribution patterns (including urban soil, rural or agricultural soil, seasonal and vertical variations), potential sources, and human health exposure. The levels of PAEs in soils of China are generally at the high end of the global range, and higher than the grade II limits of the Environmental Quality Standard for soil in China. The most abundant compounds, di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), display obvious spatial distribution in different provinces. It is noted that urbanization and industrialization, application of plastic film (especially plastic film mulching in agricultural soil) and fertilizer are the major sources of PAEs in soil. Uptake of PAEs by crops, and human exposure to PAEs via ingestion of soil and vegetables are reviewed, with scientific gaps highlighted. [Display omitted] •PAE levels in soils of China were generally higher than the other countries.•DBP and DEHP are the dominant compounds in soil with obvious spatial distribution.•Urbanization and industrialization, application of plastic film and fertilizer are the major sources of PAEs in soil.•Uptake of PAEs by crops and human exposure to PAEs are reviewed.