Seasonal distribution and ecological risk of phthalate esters in surface water and marine organisms of the Bohai Sea

Highlights: • Sixteen PAEs were investigated in surface water and biota samples in Bohai Sea. • The most predominant PAEs in Bohai Sea were DMP, DEP, DIBP, DBP, BBP, and DEHP. • Suspended particle matters are positively related to PAE content in seawater in spring and winter. • C. hexanema, C. lighti, and L. japonica could be indicator organisms in Bohai Sea. • DIBP, DBP, and DEHP present potential risks to sensitive organisms. The spatiotemporal variability and ecological risks related to 16 phthalate esters (PAEs) were investigated in surface water and marine organisms of the Bohai Sea. The average PAE concentrations in the surface water were 8.02, 4.53, and 3.16 μg L⁻¹ in spring, summer, and winter, respectively. Additionally, suspended particle matter was positive related to PAE content in seawater in spring and winter. The predominant PAEs in both water and biota were dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP), di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP), and diethylhexyl-phthalate (DEHP). Because they do not exhibit long-distance migratory behavior, Chaeturichthys hexanema, Cynoglossus lighti, and Loligo japonica were good candidate indicator organisms for PAE pollution in Bohai Sea. The risk quotient method revealed that DIBP, DBP, and DEHP posed relatively greater risks to the aquatic system. This research establishes baseline data from which future management strategies to control PAEs in the Bohai Sea can be developed.