Di-(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Concentrations Research Articles

Predicting spatio-temporal distribution of indoor multi-phase phthalates under the influence of particulate matter

Due to the complexity of phthalates spatial and temporal distribution in indoor environment, mechanistic that govern indoor phthalates concentrations and fates need to be explored. A dynamic partition model of phthalates considering the dynamic behavior and segmented emission of size-resolved particulate matter is developed to investigate the distribution of phthalates in the gas phase, airborne particles, and settled dust and on the fixed surface. The impacts of outdoor and indoor particle source on the multi-phase concentrations of phthalates are analyzed. Outdoor haze can suddenly increase indoor particle concentration and particle-phase concentration of Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). However, the haze decreases gas-phase and dust-phase concentration of DEHP. The particle emission rate Sp for cooking affects the maximum concentration of indoor particle, while cooking frequency has no effect on it. When cooking frequency increases, gas-phase concentration and particle-phase peak concentration of DEHP decreases significantly, which means the particulate matter may be a good carrier for DEHP removal. Increasing emission rate Sp of particles can significantly reduce the minimum gas-phase concentration of DEHP, nevertheless it can increase particle-phase maximum concentration of DEHP. Overall, the proposed model considering interactions of particle and phthalate can improve further understanding of phthalates’ fate and transport in residential environment, which is beneficial to the implementation of control strategy.

Sensitive detection of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate using a liquid crystal-based aptasensor

ABSTRACT We report a di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) aptasensor based on liquid crystal (LC), 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl (5CB). This optical sensor is made up of an aptamer that interacts with DEHP and cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) at the aqueous/LCs interface. The cationic surfactants, CTAB, trigger the homeotropic state of 5CB and control its local anchoring depending on the extent to which they interact with the aptamers. When the aptamers are electrostatically attracted to CTAB, the orientation of 5CB is disturbed. The conformational changes of the aptamers contribute to a change in the ordering of 5CB from a tilted to homeotropic state due to the formation of the DEHP-aptamer complexes. The ordering of the LCs is influenced by the biomolecular interactions at the CTAB-filled aqueous/5CB interface. We analysed the orientational ordering of 5CB according to the DEHP concentrations. An orientational transition from homeotropic to tilted alignment was observed with decreasing DEHP concentration. We determined the detection limit to be approximately 0.651 pg/mL in phosphate-buffered saline. We interpreted the greyscale intensity data that measured the intensity of polarised light, which penetrated the LCs, to quantify the polarised image. Our results demonstrate the potential method for simply monitoring the DEHP levels in various environmental parameters.

Comparison of Different Chemical Extraction Methods for Predicting the Bioavailability and Phytotoxicity of Soil PAEs to Green Vegetables (Brassica Rapa Var. Chinensis).

The aim of the present study was to compare the predictive ability of four chemical extraction methods, i.e., Tenax, hydroxypropyl[β]cyclodextrin (HPCD), n-butanol and low-molecular-weight-organic-acids (LMWOA), for predicting the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of soil phthalic acid esters to the green vegetable Shanghaiqing (SHQ). Results showed that the extraction ability of different extraction methods varies significantly. For dibutyl phthalate (DBP), the extraction ability followed the order of Tenax > LMWOA > HPCD > n-butanol. For di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), the order of the extraction ability was n-butanol > HPCD > Tenax > LMWOA. All the extraction methods underestimated the DBP concentration while overestimating the DEHP concentration accumulated by SHQ. The concentrations of DBP and DEHP extracted by Tenax were most related to the concentrations accumulated by SHQ and the phytotoxicity indicators of SHQ. Tenax can serve as a good chemical extractant to assess the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of soil DBP and DEHP to SHQ.

Endoglin Modulates TGFβR2 Induced VEGF and Proinflammatory Cytokine Axis Mediated Angiogenesis in Prolonged DEHP-Exposed Breast Cancer Cells.

Angiogenesis is the process of vascular network development and plays a crucial role in cancer growth, progression, and metastasis. Phthalates are a class of environmental pollutants that have detrimental effects on human health and are reported to increase cancer risk. However, the interplay between phthalate exposure and angiogenesis has not been investigated thoroughly. In this study, we investigated the effect of prolonged di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) treatment on the angiogenic potential of triple-negative breast cancer. MDA-MB-231 cells were exposed to physiological concentrations of DEHP for more than three months. Prolonged DEHP exposure induced angiogenesis in breast cancer cells. Endoglin (ENG)/CD105 is a membrane glycoprotein and an auxiliary receptor of the TGFβ receptor complex. In endothelial cells, ENG is highly expressed and it is a prerequisite for developmental angiogenesis. A literature review highlights endoglin as a well-known mesenchymal stem cell marker responsible for vascular development and angiogenesis. NGS analysis showed that endoglin overexpression in DEHP-exposed MDA-MB-231 cells correlated with tumor development and growth. An in vivo zebrafish xenograft assay showed that VEGFA induced sprouting of the subintestinal vein (SIV) in embryos injected with DEHP-exposed cells. Endoglin knockdown reduced SIV sprouting and VEGFA expression in zebrafish embryos. An in vitro HUVEC tube formation assay showed that endoglin depletion reversed DEHP-induced VEGF-mediated HUVEC tube formation in coculture. DEHP-induced endoglin activated TGFβ/SMAD3/VEGF and MAPK/p38 signaling in MDA-MB-231 cells. A cytokine angiogenesis antibody array showed induced expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL1α, IL1β, IL6, and IL8, along with GMCSF and VEGF. Endoglin knockdown reversed DEHP-induced activation of the TGFβ/SMAD3/VEGF signaling axis, MAPK/p38 signaling, and cytokine regulation, limiting angiogenesis potential both in vivo and in vitro. Targeting endoglin might serve as a potential alternative treatment to control angiogenesis, leading to metastasis and limiting cancer progression.

Effects of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the differentiation of umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), a class of peripheral toxic substances, can cause many environmental and clinical side effects, particularly on the human body's endocrine system. Bisphenol A (BPA) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) are two well-known EDCs in the medicine industry. However, there are no comprehensive studies on their effects on hematopoiesis. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of these two aforementioned substances on the clonogenic capacity of umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (CB-HSCs). The HSCs which express CD34 + were isolated from umbilical cord blood by the magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) system. To investigate the effects of different optimized concentrations of BPA and DEHP, CB-CD34+ HSCs were exposed to EDCs in semisolid medium. For evaluation of coexposures, CB-CD34+ HSCs were cocultured with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in the presence of BPA and DEHP. Finally, the number and types of colonies were evaluated after 14days. Statistical analysis was performed by GraphPad Prism through ANOVA. CB-HSC treated by BPA and DEHP showed a lower absolute colony count than the control group (P < 0.05). Decrease in clonogenic potential of HSCs was more significant in coculture condition by MSCs. In particular, there was a significant decrease in the BFU-E colonies in comedicated-derived fractions (P < 0.0001). In the presence of EDCs such as BPA and DEHP, the patterns of differentiation in CD34+ CB-HSCs changed from suppressed erythroid differentiation toward stimulated myelogenesis pathways.

Impacts of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate on Folsomia candida (Collembola) assessed with a multi-biomarker approach

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is extensively used as an additive to produce plastics, but it may damage non-target organisms in soil. In this study, the effects of DEHP on Folsomia candida in terms of survival, reproduction, enzyme activities, and DNA damage were investigated in spiked artificial soil using a multi-biomarker strategy. The 7-day LC50 (median lethal concentration) and 28-day EC50 (median effect concentration) values of DEHP were 1256.25 and 19.72 mg a.i. (active ingredient) kg-1 dry soil, respectively. Biomarkers involved in antioxidant defense including catalase (CAT-catalase), glutathione S-transferases (GST), detoxifying enzymes including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), Cytochrome P450 (CYP450), and peroxidative damage (LPO-lipid peroxide) were also measured (EC10, EC20, and EC50) after exposure for 2, 4, 7, and 14 days. The Comet assay was also applied to assess the level of genetic damage. The activity of CAT and LPO was drastically enhanced by the highest dose (EC50) of DEHP on day two. The activities of GST and AChE in DEHP treatment groups were found to be blocked. In contrast, the activity of CYP450 was significantly enhanced compared to the respective control groups during the first four days of incubation. The Comet assay in F.candida demonstrated that DEHP (EC50) could induce DNA damage. The obtained multi-biomarker data were analyzed using an integrated biomarker response (IBR) index, indicating that limited-time exposure triggered higher stress than long-term exposure at low concentrations of DEHP. These results demonstrate that DEHP may cause biochemical and genetic toxicity to F. candida, which illustrated the potential risks of DEHP in the soil environment and might affect soil ecosystem processes. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the toxic mechanisms of DEHP on other non-target organisms in soil.

Exposure to Di-2-ethylhexyl Phthalate and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, NHANES 2001-2008.

30% of men suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) worldwide. As one of the most important members of Phthalate esters, previous studies suggested ubiquitous Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure is associated with such male disorders by interfering with endocrine system, however, little is known about the association between DEHP exposure and BPH. The objective of this study was to study the potential association by the 2001–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. The data was collected, and multiple logistic regression was adapted to measure the association. The concentrations of DEHP (∑DEHP) were calculated by each metabolite and split into quartiles for analysis. Results showed that the odds ratio (OR) decreased with increased ∑DEHP concentration. In the crude model, the OR for the second quartile (OR = 1.60, 95%CI [1.24, 2.07]) was obviously higher compared with the lowest quartile. However, the OR for the highest quartile (OR = 0.55, 95%CI [0.44,0.69]) was lower than that for the third quartile (OR = 0.77, 95%CI [0.61, 0.97]), and the OR for the third and the highest quartile were significantly lower than that of the lowest quartile, which suggested biphasic effects of DEHP based on concentration. The results showed the same trend after adjusting confounding factors. The study suggested that the DEHP exposure is associated with DEHP, and the results adds limited evidence to study this topic, however, further researches are needed to determine if the status of BPH can be changed by controlling DEHP exposure.

Impact of the pathogen inactivation process on the migration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from plasma bags.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a toxic plasticizer that is commonly used in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) blood bags. It is well known that DEHP can migrate from a medical device into the blood plasma. For safety reasons, pathogens in plasma must be inactivated; however, this process may increase DEHP migration. Here, we assessed the impact of illumination-based pathogen inactivation on the migration of DEHP from PVC bags into plasma. Pairs of native PVC-DEHP plasma bags were pooled. Each pool was then split into a pathogen-inactivated bag and a control bag. After illumination, the plasma concentrations of DEHP and its main metabolite (mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, MEHP) in each bag were assayed and compared using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Concentrations were evaluated in repeated-measures, two-way analyses of variance. The MEHP concentration was significantly associated with storage but not with illumination (p= 0.0001). The DEHP concentration stayed constant throughout the storage period. The DEHP equivalent concentration (corresponding to the overall plasticizer migration rate into plasma) was not significantly associated with illumination (p= 0.3) or storage (p= 0.09; mean ± standard deviation of the mean DEHP concentration for all conditions: 147.9± 11.3μg/ml). Illumination-based inactivation of pathogens in plasma did not increase the DEHP equivalent concentration, relative to control (non-inactivated) plasma.

The dynamic partitioning of airborne phthalates in indoor environment: effects of ventilation

Low energy consumption buildings with strong air tightness such as passive buildings are the development trend in the world. However, ventilation directly affects the emission and dynamic transport of indoor phthalates. A transient partition model considering the dynamic behavior of size-resolved particle was utilized to investigate the influence of ventilation on the airborne Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). The air exchange rate (a) was set to 0.15 h-1, 0.3 h-1, 0.6 h-1, 2h-1 for the different conditions. The predicted gas-phase concentration of DEHP in the initial 70 days is unaffected for different a and constant hms, whereas it raises until the a increases to 2 h-1. The equilibrium gas-phase concentration decreases from 0.257 to 0.203 μg/m3. Meanwhile, the higher a also reduced the particle-phase concentration of DEHP. Furthermore, the changes of airborne DEHP were analyzed by considering the impact of a on hms caused by ventilation. The results indicates that more ventilation leads to higher gas-phase concentration for the whole stage. The gas-phase concentration at equilibrium increases from 0.237 to 0.440 μg/m3. The total airborne (gas-phase + particle-phase) concentration decreases with the higher ventitation rate, which indicates that the ventitation has a positive effect on indoor airborne DEHP.

Spatial distribution model of DEHP contamination categories in soil based on Bi-LSTM and sparse sampling

Soil pollution is a serious threat to human life and development. Different remedial measures are applied to soils with different levels of contamination. The degree of soil contamination in different areas is generally evaluated and categorised based on the analysis of samples. Regional soil sampling sites are generally sparse because of the cost of sampling and other factors, which makes it difficult to accurately assess the extent of regional soil contamination. In this study, a spatial classification model was established for the Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) pollution level using a Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) neural network considering that the sampling information gradually diminishes with increasing distance between the sampling and prediction points. In this study, a method is proposed for the prediction of the spatial distribution of soil pollution categories based on sparse samples. We also established a model for the spatial distribution of organic pollution categories. The analysis of an actual contaminated area shows that the DEHP concentrations at different locations can be effectively predicted with the proposed method by categorising the contamination levels of specific DEHP samples. The results show that the method can be used to classify the degree of light/severe DEHP contamination. The results are in good agreement with the actual situation, verifying the validity of the method. This method is important for the rapid assessment of the spatial distribution of soil contamination levels based on sparse sampling.

Biodegradation of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate by novel Rhodococcus sp. PFS1 strain isolated from paddy field soil.

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is the phthalate ester frequently utilized as a plasticizer, commonly found in cosmetics, packaging materials; moreover, it has carcinogenic and mutagenic effects on humans. In the current study, we isolated the soil bacterium Rhodococcus sp. PFS1 and to assess its DEHP degradation ability in various environmental conditions. The strain PFS1 was isolated from paddy field soil and identified by the 16S rRNA sequencing analyses. The strain PFS1 was examined for its biodegradation ability of DEHP at various pH, temperature, salt concentration, glucose concentration, and high and low concentrations of DEHP. Moreover, the biodegradation of DEHP at a contaminated soil environment by strain PFS1 was assessed. Further, the metabolic pathway of DEHP degradation by PFS1 was analyzed by HPLC-MS analysis. The results showed that the strain PFS1 effectively degraded the DEHP at neutral pH and temperature 30°C; moreover, expressed excellent DEHP degradation at the high salt concentration (up to 50g/L). The strain PFS1 was efficiently degraded the different tested phthalate esters (PAEs) up to 90%, significantly removed the DEHP contamination in soil along with native organisms which are present in soil up to 94.66%; nevertheless, the PFS1 alone degraded the DEHP up to 87.665% in sterilized soil. According to HPLC-MS analysis, DEHP was degraded into phthalate (PA) by PFS1 strain via mono(2-ethylehxyl) phthalate (MEHP); then PA was utilized for cell growth. These results suggest that Rhodococcus sp. PFS1 has excellent potential to degrade DEHP at various environmental conditions especially in contaminated paddy field soil.

Development of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-containing thioglycolic acid immobilized chitosan mucoadhesive gel as an alternative hormone therapy for menopausal syndrome.

Menopausal syndrome includes the symptoms that most women experience owing to hormone changes after menopause. Although hormone replacement therapy is a common treatment for menopausal syndrome, there are still many side effects and challenges hindering research. In this study, thioglycolic acid (TGA)‐immobilized chitosan mucoadhesive gel was synthesized by a new method of low concentration of 1,4‐butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) would encapsulate di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) as an alternative hormone replacement therapy for menopausal syndrome. The efficacies of the DEHP‐containing TGA‐chitosan gel (CT‐D) were confirmed and evaluated by materials characterization and in vitro study. Results showed that CT‐D was not cytotoxic and had better mucoadhesive ability than chitosan. The animal model was constructed 1 month after bilateral ovariectomy in SD rats. CT‐D was administered intravaginally every 3 days. Bodyweight, wet weight of the uterus and vagina, vaginal smears, histology, blood element analysis, and serological analysis was used to assess the ability of the material to relieve menopausal syndrome. The results indicated that the combination of the sustained release of DEHP and mucoadhesive TGA‐immobilized chitosan allows the developed CT‐D to relieve the menopausal syndrome through low concentrations of DEHP, which falls in the safety level of the tolerable daily intake of DEHP.

Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate administered in feed to Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a member of the phthalate ester chemical class that occurs commonly in the environment and to which humans are widely exposed. Lifetime exposure to DEHP is likely to occur, including during the in utero and early postnatal windows of development. To date, no carcinogenicity assessments of DEHP have used a lifetime exposure paradigm that includes the perinatal period (gestation and lactation). The National Toxicology Program (NTP) tested the hypothesis that exposure during the perinatal period would alter the DEHP carcinogenic response quantitatively (more neoplasms) or qualitatively (different neoplasm types). Two chronic carcinogenicity assessments of DEHP were conducted in which Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats were exposed to dosed feed containing 0, 300, 1,000, 3,000, or 10,000 ppm DEHP for 2 years using different exposure paradigms. In Study 1, groups of 45 F0 time-mated females were provided dosed feed beginning on gestation day (GD) 6 through lactation. On postnatal day (PND) 21, groups of 50 F1 rats per sex continued on the study and were provided dosed feed containing the same DEHP concentration as their respective dam for 2 years. In Study 2, groups of 50 rats per sex, aged 6 to 7 weeks at study start, were provided dosed feed containing DEHP for 2 years. (Abstract Abridged).

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure leads to ferroptosis via the HIF-1α/HO-1 signaling pathway in mouse testes

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an extensively used plasticizer and has been shown to cause reproductive dysfunction in humans and model animals. However, the exact mechanisms of testicular injury induced by DEHP exposure have not been fully clarified. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we found that mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (MEHP, a major biometabolite of DEHP) and DEHP concentrations were elevated in mouse serum after DEHP exposure. Using RNA-seq, we found that ferroptosis and HIF-1 signaling pathways might be involved in testicular injury due to prepubertal DEHP exposure. Subsequent Western blotting, ferrous iron and MDA measurements, and immunofluorescence of testicular sections verified the RNA-seq findings. Consistently, based on the RNA-seq findings, we found that ferroptosis and HIF-1 signaling pathways might play crucial roles in Leydig and Sertoli cell injury due to MEHP exposure in vitro. Further experiments also confirmed ferroptosis in Leydig and Sertoli cells. Using Western blotting, cellular immunofluorescence and ChIP-qPCR, we found that MEHP exposure caused HIF-1α accumulation and stabilization, resulted in HIF-1α translocation into the nucleus, and induced HIF-1α/Hmox1 binding in Leydig and Sertoli cells. To clarify whether HIF-1α plays a pivotal role in MEHP-induced ferroptosis, we knocked out Hif-1α using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. We found that Hif-1α knockout rescued MEHP-induced ferroptosis. In summary, our findings certified that prepubertal DEHP exposure led to ferroptosis in mouse testes via the HIF-1α/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Weighted gene coexpression network analysis reveals ESR1, FLNA and Furin as hub genes for DEHP-induced prepubertal testicular injury

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an environmental endocrine disruptor that accumulates in organisms in various ways and induces male reproductive system disorders. In this study, we established a testicular injury model by gavage with different concentrations of DEHP. The testes were then collected for RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), and the results were analyzed by bioinformatics and verified by experiments. Our research results show that different concentrations of DEHP interfere with testicular development differently. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) generated sixteen modules and identified the turquoise module as key. Then, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), filamin A (Flna) and Furin were identified as hub genes. qPCR and immunohistochemistry results revealed that all three hub genes were upregulated. We detected the locations of these genes by immunohistochemistry. ESR1 was mainly located in Leydig cells; Flna immunostaining is observed in the Leydig and some germ cells and Furin staining was seen in almost all types of testicular cells. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses showed enrichment mainly in MAPK signaling pathways, p53 signaling pathways, HIF-1 signaling pathways, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, apoptosis, the cell cycle, RNA degradation, etc. This is the first study using WGCNA to investigate the mechanism of DEHP-induced injury in the prepubertal testis, providing new research angles to further understand the mechanism of DEHP-induced injury in the prepubertal testis.

Potential environmental risk assessment of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate emissions from a municipal solid waste landfill leachate.

BackgroundIn certain countries, including Poland, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waste, together with di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) contained within (up to 60%), is mostly directed to municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. From there, over time, it is released from the polymer matrix and can migrate with landfill leachate into the environment. The amount of DEHP placed on the Polish market since the start of industrial production and the prevalent landfilling disposal of PVC waste in Poland, indicate that DEHP pollution can increase risk factors in the future. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of DEHP in leachates from a chosen MSW landfill directed to a local sewage treatment plant (STP) and estimate the associated potential risks to the environment.ResultsDEHP concentrations in leachates ranged from < LOQ to 394.4 µg/L, depending on the sampling year and season. DEHP is a pervasive environmental contaminant present in all investigated landfill leachate samples. The results from The European Union System for the Evaluation of Substances (EUSES) modelling related to DEHP in leachate directed to STP indicated potentially unacceptable risk to freshwater organisms; and birds and mammals feeding on earthworms (where a sewage sludge applications in agriculture take place). The results indicated low risk for other environmental components including local fresh-water sediment, local soil and microorganisms of STP, and freshwater fish-eating birds and mammals.ConclusionsFuture DEHP emissions may occur after the technical lifetime of the landfill and/or decay its bottom sealing. To avoid contamination, the monitoring of landfills after closure should include DEHP concentrations and last longer than the recommended (inter alia in Poland) 30 years, or until emissions from PVC to leachate are eliminated. More research on leachate of DEHP and its potential risks should be conducted, utilising detailed modelling which can including other landfills and different routes of DEHP emissions in leachates.

Characterizing the Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in Runoff from Roads and Other Impervious Surfaces in a Suburban Area of Beijing.

Stormwater runoff samples were collected from five different land use sites (gas station, city road, campus, park, and residential) in a precipitation event on May 22nd, 2017, from a small suburban area (5km × 2km) of the city of Beijing, China. There were 72 types of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) found in these runoff samples, including 33 types of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs), 22 types of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 6 types of phthalate esters (PAEs), 9 types of pesticides and 2 types of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Especially, 26 types of SVOCs (7 MAHs, 9 PAHs, 5 PAEs, and 5 pesticides) were detected in all water samples. SVOCs concentrations were higher in the samples from gas station and city road, and lower in runoff from campus, park and residential sites. The change in the ratio of anthracene to anthracene plus phenanthrene (ANT/(ANT + PHE)) in this study, reflected the importance of PAH source and land use. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-butyl phthalate, are two of the phthalate esters 100% detected in the runoff samples. The city road runoff DEHP concentrations recorded the highest values (> 6000ng/L), however, were still less than those wastewater DEHP pollutants measured in developed countries (e.g. UK, Canada, Finland, etc.). One-way ANOVA analysis in this study, showed that land use could significantly influence 23 SVOCs in the runoff samples, whereas the runoff SVOCs in different precipitation period showed no statistical changes in the five sites, and presented a general temporal trends "high (beginning)-low (middle period)-little raising (ending)". The findings in this study could be used in municipal management of wastewater collection and treatment.

DEHP in house dust in relation to housing characteristics in the CHILD Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), a widely used plasticizer, is ubiquitous in indoor environments. DEHP was the most prevalent phthalate measured in house dust in the CHILD Cohort, and was found to be associated with increased risk of childhood asthma in our recent case-cohort sub-analysis. Our aim was to identify possible sources of DEHP in dust in this cohort. METHODS: CHILD is a multi-center Canadian birth cohort study. DEHP levels were measured in house dust samples collected at age 3-4 months. Housing characteristics were assessed by Research Assistants at the time of dust collection and families completed an environment-related questionnaire. Using dust data from 726 homes involved in the case-cohort study, factors such as vinyl flooring, vinyl furniture and mattress coverings were investigated as potential indicators of DEHP sources. Mass-based DEHP concentrations were log-transformed and multivariable linear regression models were used to assess the associations, controlling for possible confounders such as household income and age of home. RESULTS:The quantity of vinyl/plastic furniture in homes was significantly associated with DEHP concentration. Higher DEHP concentrations were observed in homes with older flooring ( 3 years) in the mother’s bedroom. Homes with vinyl flooring in both the kitchen and bathroom showed higher levels of DEHP on average than those without vinyl flooring but the effect decreased after adjusting for the age of home as a proxy for unmeasured related confounders. The presence of mold, suggestive of dampness, was also associated with higher DEHP concentrations. No significant difference in DEHP concentrations in dust was observed between homes with and without mattress covering on children’s beds. CONCLUSIONS:DEHP in house dust is associated with specific housing characteristics. These findings could provide guidance to the public on the choice of building materials and furnishings, as well as in the development of policies, aimed at improving the indoor environment. KEYWORDS: phthalates, children’s environmental health, endocrine disrupting chemicals, chemical exposures, built environment

Polyethylene terephthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in surface and core sediments of Bohai Bay, China: Occurrence and ecological risk

Bohai Bay, a typical semi-enclosed bay, is close to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, the economic center of north China. The release of emerging contaminants was considerably increasing with the fast urbanization and industrialization along the coastline. However, such data, e.g. plastic polymers, are still limited. Here, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in surface sediments and sediment cores from the coastal area of Bohai Bay were investigated. The ranges of PET and DEHP concentrations in surface sediments are 1.49–13.90 mg/kg and 0.23–19.26 mg/kg, respectively. The relatively high contents of PET and DEHP were found near the Haihe River estuary, indicating the importance of riverine input. The PET and DEHP profiles in the cores dated by the 210Pb method showed increasing trends with time. The PET in Bohai Bay was low risk evaluated by the potential ecological risk assessment. Low ecological risks of DEHP to the benthic organisms were found in the sediments, using the environmental risk limits, risk quotient, threshold effect level and probable effect level methods. The pollution levels of PET and DEHP in Bohai Bay obtained in this study may provide important data for making pollution control strategies.

Severe contamination and time trend of legacy and alternative plasticizers in a highly industrialized lake associated with regulations and coastal development

Few studies have been conducted on aquatic contamination by alternative plasticizers. Phthalates and novel plasticizers were measured in sediments from a highly industrialized lake to assess occurrence, sources, time trends, and ecological risks. Legacy and alternative plasticizers were detected in all sediments. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was a predominant plasticizer, indicating its popular industrial consumption for the last two decades. Predominant novel plasticizers were changed over time. The highest sedimentary DEHP level was recorded on the global scale. Legacy and alternative plasticizers in creek sediments significantly increased from 2008 to 2016, while those from inshore and offshore regions of the lake significantly decreased in association with a dilution effect caused by the operation of a tidal power plant. Concentration ratios of alternative plasticizers to DEHP increased for the last decade, implying a shift in consumption of plasticizers. Sedimentary DEHP concentrations in creeks exceeded almost all threshold values associated with ecological risks.