Organophosphate esters (OPs) represent a group of chlorinated (Cl-OPs) alkyl and non-chlorinated (NCl-OPs) aryl compounds with tri-ester structures. They are substitutes for polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants, with the annual production rate increasing at 15% in China. According to our nationwide baseline investigation, OP metabolites (mOPs) were frequently detected in China. Urinary concentrations of ΣCl-mOPs were two times higher than those of ΣNCl-mOPs. Bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP), bis(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BCIPP), diphenyl phosphate (DPHP), and dibutyl phosphate (DBP) were the dominant mOPs. The intake estimates showed that Chinese residents were highly exposed to TCEP from 96.9 to 46,700 (or 52.2 to 25,200) ng/kg bw/day. Depending on the reference dose, we found that approximately 5% of the individuals exceeded risk threshold in China. Primitive recycling, which exacerbates the chance of fugitive emissions of flame retardants contaminating the environment, is associated with environmental pollution and health hazards to human body in electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling area. Our first investigation suggested he urinary concentrations of mOPs in the e-waste dismantling sites were higher than reference area. These differences were significant for BCEP (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) and DPHP (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). In addition, a region-specific high DNA oxidative stress was also observed in e-waste dismantling site, which was correlated with OP exposure. Results suggested that such special human activities contributed to human exposure to emerging pollutants and were related to adverse health effects of local residents.

Urinary levels of organophosphate esters metabolites in China: Their associations with oxidative stress in humans

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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