Authors
Sixu Liu, Baolin Liu, Guang Yang, Yong Yu
Published in
Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 233. Issue Pt 1. Pages 120194. Jul 28, 2026. Epub Jul 28, 2026.
Abstract
Phthalate esters (PAEs) are ubiquitous endocrine disruptors in marine ecosystems, while data regarding bioaccumulation and trophodynamics of alternative PAEs remain limited. In August 2025, we collected 333 biological, 20 seawater and 20 sediment samples from Zhifu Bay, Yellow Sea, to quantify six legacy and eleven alternative PAEs. Lipid-normalized PAE concentrations ranged from 0.332 to 564 ng·g-1 lw, with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate being the predominant congener. Total PAE levels (Σ17PAEs) showed no obvious differences among fish, crustaceans and mollusks. Dipropyl phthalate, bis(2-butoxyethy) phthalate and benzyl butyl phthalate presented strong bioaccumulation, and benthic organisms had higher accumulation capacity for several PAEs than fish. Salinity, pH and dissolved organic carbon exerted little influence on PAE bioaccumulation, and all target PAEs exhibited notable sediment-biota accumulation. For multiple PAEs and Σ17PAEs, concentrations were negatively correlated with trophic levels, with all TMF values below 1, indicating obvious biodilution across the food web. PAE bioaccumulation and trophodynamics were synergistically modulated by food web structure, hydrophobic partitioning and biotransformation kinetics. Seafood consumption posed acceptable non-carcinogenic risks, yet DEHP was the main source of carcinogenic risks. This study advances the knowledge of PAE behaviors in marine food webs and provides references for coastal management for PAE contamination.
PMID:
42520326
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 29 Jul 2026.
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