Distribution,chemical composition and ecological risk assessment of phthalic acid esters in surface sediments from typical coastal zones of Qingdao City

In order to investigate and assess the pollution level of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in surface sediments from typical coastal zones of Qingdao City, Shandong Province, 25 surface sediments samples were collected and contents of 6 PAEs compounds that classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) as priority pollutants were determined. The results indicated only 3 compounds of the 6 PAEs were detected. The total concentrations of the detected PAEs in sediments ranged from 17.10×10^-9 to 3446.49×10^-9, and various concentrations of PAEs were ordered by DEHP (ND~3209.83×10^-9) > DBP (ND~2744.35×10^-9) > DMP (1.70×10^-9~95.45×10^-9). Comparing with other areas around the world, the surface sediments from typical coastal zones in Qingdao City of PAEs pollution were in the middle level. The result of the ecological risk assessment shows little negative effect for most individual PAEs in surface sediments of typical coastal zones around Qingdao City.