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Organophosphate ester additives and microplastics in benthic compartments from the Loire estuary (French Atlantic coast)
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Researchers measured both microplastics and organophosphate ester chemicals (used in flame retardants and plasticizers) in sediments and clams from the Loire estuary in France. They found that clams accumulated higher levels of certain toxic organophosphate esters in summer and showed signs of bioaccumulation for chlorinated variants. While the study found limited evidence that microplastics directly release these chemicals in sediment, both pollutants co-exist in the estuary, raising questions about combined exposure through seafood.
We report the first empirical confirmation of the co-occurrence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) additives and microplastics (MPs) in benthic compartments from the Loire estuary. Higher median concentrations of MPs (3387 items/kg dw), ∑13tri-OPEs (12.0 ng/g dw) and ∑4di-OPEs (0.7 ng/g dw) were measured in intertidal sediments with predominance of fine particles, and under higher anthropogenic pressures, with a general lack of seasonality. Contrarily, Scrobicularia plana showed up to 4-fold higher ∑tri-OPE concentrations in summer (reaching 37.0 ng/g dw), and similar spatial distribution. Polyethylene predominated in both compartments. Tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP), its degradation metabolite (BEHP) and tris-(2-chloro, 1-methylethyl) phosphate (TCIPP) were the most abundant OPEs in sediments, while TCIPP predominated in S. plana. The biota-sediment accumulation factors suggest bioaccumulation potential for chlorinated-OPEs, with higher exposure in summer. No significant correlations were generally found between OPEs and MPs in sediments suggesting a limited role of MPs as in-situ source of OPEs.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.