Distribution and Sources of OPEs in Plants and Snow in Hailuogou

Abstract

In order to study the effects of atmospheric transport and the wet/dry deposition on the content and distribution of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in remote areas, seven types of OPEs including tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP), tri (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), trichloropropyl phosphate (TCPP), tridichloropropyl phosphate (TDCPP), triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), tributoxyethyl phosphate (TBEP), and tris (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) were analyzed in plants and snow samples in Hailuogou using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that the pollution levels of the seven OPEs (∑7OPEs) in the plant samples ranged from 43.1 ng·g-1 to 1050.8 ng·g-1. TBEP and TPhP were the main pollutants, accounting for 36%-70% and 24%-80% of the ∑7OPEs, respectively. The main pollutants in the snow in Hailuogou were the same as those in the plants, with TBEP dominating the profile of the ∑7OPEs at 47%, followed by TPhP at 24%. The analysis results of the grid analysis display system (Grads), backward trajectory model, and historical wind data of Hailuogou indicate that the OPEs in this region are affected mainly by atmospheric transmission from Chengdu and the junction of Yunnan Zhaotong and Yibin, Luzhou, and Xichang. The environment of Hailuogou has obviously been disturbed by human activities. It is necessary to conduct thorough investigations of its environmental behavior and to strengthen urban pollution control measures.