Anthropogenic Occurrence of Phthalate Esters in Beach Seawater in the Southeast Coast Region, South Korea

Huijin Heo,Mi-Jin Choi,Taewoo Nam,Jongkwan Park,Jaeweon Cho

doi:10.3390/w12010122

Huijin Heo, Mi-Jin Choi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/w12010122

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Abstract

In modern times, humans have contributed to the occurrence of phthalate esters (PEs) in various environmental matrices by consuming plastics that generally contain PEs, which are essential synthetic organic chemicals for fabrication of various consumer products. Five beaches in Ulsan and Busan, South Korea, were investigated for the anthropogenic occurrence of four PEs (dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)) in beach seawater. Using stir-bar sorptive extraction-thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, DnBP and DEHP were determined as generally dominant. At Ilsan Beach, both the northern and southern ends showed higher DnBP and DEHP concentrations than the middle of the beach, while DMP and DEP showed similar concentrations at all points. The differences in the DnBP and DEHP concentrations may be related to the fishery industry and domestic sewage inflow to the beach. In addition, a comparison among Ilsan, Imnang, and Songjeong beaches suggested the effects of neighboring industrial areas on the DnBP and DEHP ratio. This study provides information on the effects of seasons, weather events, the proximity of rivers, industrial behavior, and domestic sewage to PE concentrations in beach seawater.

Highlights

Phthalates, or more precisely phthalate esters (PEs), are an essential additive in the majority of plastic products and consumer products such as toys, packaging, building materials, cosmetics, and fragrance solvents, as they enhance plastic flexibility and fragrance persistence [1]
The sum of four PE concentrations ( 4 PEs) showed different tendencies depending on the season and the site (Figure 2)
Among the many factors affecting PE concentrations, this study focused on anthropogenic effects on PE concentrations in beach seawater

Summary

Introduction

Phthalates, or more precisely phthalate esters (PEs), are an essential additive in the majority of plastic products and consumer products such as toys, packaging, building materials, cosmetics, and fragrance solvents, as they enhance plastic flexibility and fragrance persistence [1]. These PEs migrate from the products to other matrices due to the weak attraction between PE and plastic monomer molecules caused by a physically mixed rather than chemically bonded state [2]. Attention to PEs is increasing as concerns regarding their occurrence in the environment and human exposure have been raised. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated six PEs as being of primary concern in 2007: dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP), butyl-benzyl-phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP)

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