Ecological Risks Caused by Co-Accumulation of Phthalic Acid Esters and Cyclic Volatile Methylsiloxanes in Water and Sediment from Rao Cai River, Central Vietnam
摘要
Previous studies have found the presence of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) and cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (CVMSs) in the aquatic environment, raising concerns about their potential environmental impact and, ultimately, their possible effects on humans. However, data on the presence of these compounds, as well as their analysis in Vietnam, are still limited. This study is the first report on the co-occurrence of 10 PAEs and 3 CVMSs in the Rao Cai River, central Vietnam. The results showed that the total concentrations of PAEs and CVMSs in water samples were in the range of 147–10,200 ng/L (mean/median: 3080/2140 ng/L) and 1.64–374 ng/L (mean/median: 134/120 ng/L), respectively. The range of PAEs and CVMSs in the sediments was 152–4740 ng/g-dw (mean/median: 1360/918) and 0.86–918 ng/g-dw (mean/median: 236/167). The compounds di-(2-ethyl)hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) were found at the highest levels in the water and sediment samples. Spearman correlation and Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed a source of several pollutant groups classified due to similar physicochemical properties and waste sources. Risk quotient (RQ) value analysis revealed a potential hazard risk for algae and crustaceans, as determined by DEHP accumulation in the water samples, and a high potential risk for fish, as indicated by DiBP accumulation in the sediments. These results are essential for further in-depth studies on PAEs and CVMS compounds in the Vietnamese environment.
Graphical Abstract