Abstract
Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) have become a ubiquitous environmental contaminant due to their extensive usage in various applications such as electronics, electrical equipment, building materials, automobiles, textiles, and cables. It have been detected in water bodies and sediment worldwide, indicating their global presence and potential environmental impact. Mangrove forests in the marine-terrestrial ecotone serve as the primary repository for terrestrial pollutants. However, the distribution of OPFRs and the underlying factors driving their presence are not yet well understood. In this study, three urban mangroves in Shenzhen were selected based on urban functional zoning: Shajing (SJ) mangrove, located in an industrial district; Futian (FT) mangrove and Baguang (BG) mangrove, located in the central business district and ecological preserve, respectively. This study revealed that the total concentrations of the seven OPFRs ranged from 30.0 to 418.3 ng L−1 in surface seawater and from 53.1 to 151.6 ng g−1 dry weight in sediment. Triethyl phosphate-TEP and tributyl phosphate-TnBP were detected in surface seawater from SJ and in all sediment samples. The dominant OPFRs varied between surface seawater (tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate-TCPP and triphenylphosphine oxide-TPPO) and sediments (TCPP and triphenyl phosphate-TPhP). Further analysis showed transfer of OPFRs was relatively weak in SJ but improved in BG and FT, suggesting varying degrees of contamination and accumulation across the different functional zones. Ecological risk assessment indicated that only TPHP exhibited moderate risk in surface seawater and sediment. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the spatial distribution (surface seawater and sediment) of OPFRs in urban mangroves characterized by diverse functional zoning. It emphasizes the necessity of reducing OPFRs emissions into the environment and effectively managing OPFRs contamination in urban mangroves.
Published Version
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