Occurrence and ecological risk assessment of 16 plasticizers in the rivers and estuaries in Japan

Abstract

Owing to growing concerns about the adverse effects of phthalate plasticizers, non-phthalate plasticizers are being increasingly used as their replacement. However, information on the residual environmental concentrations and ecological risks posed by these plasticizers is limited. In this study, we analyzed the environmental contamination of 11 phthalates and 5 non-phthalate plasticizers in Class A and B rivers in Japan. In the considered river water samples, phthalates and non-phthalates were detected in the following order of detection frequency: phthalates (DEHP > DMP > DMEP > BBP > DNPP > DNP > DEEP > DBEP = DNOP) and non-phthalates (ATBC > DEHS > DEHA > TOTM = DIBA). Phthalate plasticizers were the most abundant and included DEHP (157–859 ng/L), DMP (<MQL–3680 ng/L), DMEP (<MQL–4600 ng/L), and BBP (<MQL–1080 ng/L); non-phthalates included ATBC (<MQL–1550 ng/L) and DEHS (<MQL–220 ng/L). The risk quotient for DEHP and ATBC was found to be more than one, suggesting an emerging concern regarding their contamination and adverse effects on aquatic organisms. This study is the first to shed light on the persistence of non-phthalate plasticizers in freshwater environments in Japan; the findings could help develop strategies to mitigate the environmental effects of plasticizers.