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Presence of Phthalate Esters Used as Common Plasticisers in Maltese Shoreline Sand
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This paper documents the presence of phthalate ester plasticizers in a range of food products, tracing contamination to migration from plastic packaging and processing materials. Detected concentrations are compared against regulatory limits, with some samples exceeding thresholds of concern for human dietary exposure. The findings underscore the need for stricter controls on plasticizer use in food-contact materials.
DBP and DEHP are two of the most common plasticisers used in modern industries, which have aroused a major concern over their ubiquitous occurrence and hazardous environmental effects. This study presents the first data of phthalates’ occurrence and distribution in the Maltese shoreline sand. DBP and DEHP occurrences’ was investigated in three busy and secluded beaches, respectively. Analytical determination involved quantifying DBP and DEHP from 75 samples using UPLC-MS/MS through triple repeatability. The concentrations ranged between 0.0095–0.07034 µg/g and <LOQ–0.0977 µg/g for DBP and DEHP, respectively. Statistical analysis of the comparison of phthalates in different beaches demonstrated that the occurrence of DBP and DEHP in Maltese shoreline sand varies. The differences in the occurrence of phthalates were attributed to the beaches’ topography and anthropogenic pressures. Analysis of the effects of anthropogenic activities on the occurrence of phthalates showed a positive association. Distribution analysis showed that DBP and DEHP exhibit an uneven distribution along the shoreline. Conversely, different distributions were observed at distances away from the sea. The uneven distributions observed were associated with anthropogenic activities, different chemodynamic properties and wave action. Cluster analysis was performed to prove the interactions between the phthalates’ concentrations and the characteristics of the beaches.
More Papers Like This
Presence of Phthalate Esters Used as Common Plasticisers in Maltese Shoreline Sand
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first study of phthalate plasticisers DBP and DEHP in Maltese shoreline sand, analyzing 75 samples from busy and secluded beaches via UPLC-MS/MS. Concentrations varied significantly by beach, with anthropogenic activities and beach topography driving uneven spatial distributions of both compounds.
Distribution of phthalates in Marseille Bay (NW Mediterranean Sea)
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Researchers measured six phthalate plasticizer compounds in seawater from Marseille Bay over a full year, finding total concentrations of 130–1,330 ng/L dominated by DEHP, with elevated bottom-water levels in summer suggesting that resuspension of phthalate-laden sediment or plastic debris drives seasonal contamination patterns.
Occurrence and seasonal variation of plasticizers in sediments and biota from the coast of Mahdia, Tunisia
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Researchers measured four phthalate plasticizers and one non-phthalate alternative (DEHT) in sediments, seagrass, and mussels along the Tunisian coast, finding DEHT was the most abundant compound across all compartments and that seasonal variation in contamination was linked to industrial and urban discharge patterns.
Can Phthalates Be Considered as Microplastic Tracers in the Mediterranean Marine Environment?
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This study assessed whether phthalate plasticizers could serve as tracers for microplastic pollution in Mediterranean coastal waters, examining their occurrence, distribution, and interactions with the marine environment in one of the world's plastic pollution hotspots.
Occurrence and spatial distribution of phthalate esters in sediments of the Bohai and Yellow seas
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Six phthalate esters were measured in sediments of the Bohai and Yellow seas, with sum concentrations averaging 9.1 ng/g and DEHP as the dominant compound (median 3.77 ng/g), with highest concentrations in coastal areas near industrial activity. The study provides baseline data on phthalate distribution in two important semi-enclosed Chinese seas and identifies associated risks to marine organisms.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.