TY - JOUR
T1 - Significant input of organophosphate esters through particle-mediated transport into the Pearl River Estuary, China
AU - Lao, Jia Yong
AU - Wu, Rongben
AU - Cui, Yongsheng
AU - Zhou, Shiwen
AU - Ruan, Yuefei
AU - Leung, Kenneth M.Y.
AU - Wu, Jiaxue
AU - Zeng, Eddy Y.
AU - Lam, Paul K.S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2022/9/15
Y1 - 2022/9/15
N2 - Most organophosphate esters (OPEs) enter the marine environment through atmospheric deposition and surface runoff, yet the role of particle-mediated transport in their inputs and loss processes remains poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, samples of size-segregated atmospheric particles, suspended particulate matter (SPM) in seawater, and sediments in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) were collected and analyzed for OPEs. Total concentrations of atmospheric particulate OPEs showed a decreasing trend with increasing offshore distance in the PRE. The spatial and vertical distribution patterns of OPEs in SPM were diverse, which could be largely affected by physicochemical properties of SPM, marine microbial activities, hydrodynamic conditions, and environmental factors. Sediment in the region close to Modaomen outlet was subject to relatively high OPE concentrations. Approximately 24,100 and 65,100 g d−1 of particulate OPEs were imported into the PRE through atmospheric deposition and surface runoff, respectively; 83,200 g d−1 of which were exported to the open sea. The input and environmental fate of particulate OPEs were found to be dependent on sources, particulate media, and chemical species. The present study provides insights into the influence of OPEs in the PRE through particle-mediated transport and calls for more concern on anthropogenic impact on the estuary.
AB - Most organophosphate esters (OPEs) enter the marine environment through atmospheric deposition and surface runoff, yet the role of particle-mediated transport in their inputs and loss processes remains poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, samples of size-segregated atmospheric particles, suspended particulate matter (SPM) in seawater, and sediments in the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) were collected and analyzed for OPEs. Total concentrations of atmospheric particulate OPEs showed a decreasing trend with increasing offshore distance in the PRE. The spatial and vertical distribution patterns of OPEs in SPM were diverse, which could be largely affected by physicochemical properties of SPM, marine microbial activities, hydrodynamic conditions, and environmental factors. Sediment in the region close to Modaomen outlet was subject to relatively high OPE concentrations. Approximately 24,100 and 65,100 g d−1 of particulate OPEs were imported into the PRE through atmospheric deposition and surface runoff, respectively; 83,200 g d−1 of which were exported to the open sea. The input and environmental fate of particulate OPEs were found to be dependent on sources, particulate media, and chemical species. The present study provides insights into the influence of OPEs in the PRE through particle-mediated transport and calls for more concern on anthropogenic impact on the estuary.
KW - Atmospheric deposition
KW - Mass budget
KW - Organophosphate esters
KW - Particulate phase
KW - Sedimentation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85133538630&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129486
DO - 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129486
M3 - Article
C2 - 35809364
AN - SCOPUS:85133538630
SN - 0304-3894
VL - 438
JO - Journal of Hazardous Materials
JF - Journal of Hazardous Materials
M1 - 129486
ER -
