Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Occurrences of organophosphorus esters and phthalates in the microplastics from the coastal beaches in north China

Researchers investigated organophosphorus esters and phthalates associated with microplastics collected from 28 coastal beaches across the Bohai and Yellow Sea in northern China, finding that these plastic-associated chemical pollutants may transfer to organisms via plastic ingestion.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 176 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and Risk Assessment of Organophosphate Esters in Agricultural Soils and Plants in the Coastal Areas of South China

This study measured organophosphate esters, chemicals used as flame retardants and plasticizers in plastic products, in agricultural soils and crops along China's southern coast. These chemicals were found in every soil and plant sample tested, with some areas showing high ecological risk levels. While focused on chemical additives rather than microplastics directly, these are the same toxic compounds that leach from microplastics, showing how plastic-related chemicals contaminate the food supply.

2024 Toxics 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, source apportionment, and ecological risk assessment of organophosphate esters in surface sediment from the Ogun and Osun Rivers, Southwest Nigeria

This study is not directly about microplastics; it measures organophosphate ester flame retardants in river sediments from two Nigerian rivers, finding that some chlorinated variants pose high ecological risk to aquatic organisms. Organophosphate esters are chemical additives used in plastics and electronics, making this relevant to the broader context of plastic-associated chemical pollution.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Organic pollutants in sedimentary microplastics from eastern Guangdong: Spatial distribution and source identification

Researchers examined the spatial distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine pesticides sorbed to microplastic pellets, fragments, and foam collected from eastern Guangdong beaches, evaluating whether pellets alone can serve as reliable proxies for global monitoring of hydrophobic organic contaminants.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 65 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Organophosphate Esters in Different Media

This review summarized the environmental distribution of organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants and plasticizers—alternatives to banned brominated compounds—across water bodies, sediments, indoor dust, and organisms, and assessed associated health risks. OPEs were found ubiquitously across all compartments, and the review identified drinking water and indoor dust as the primary human exposure routes.

2025 Theoretical and Natural Science
Review Tier 2

A review of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and novel brominated flame retardants in Chinese aquatic environment: Source, occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk assessment

Researchers reviewed a decade of data on polybrominated diphenyl ethers and related brominated flame retardants in Chinese surface water and sediment, tracing their entry pathways (including microplastic decomposition) and finding that the highest contamination risk is concentrated near coastal e-waste dismantling sites.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Concentrations, spatial and seasonal variations of Organophosphate esters in UK freshwater Sediment

This study provides the first measurements of organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants and plasticizers in UK freshwater sediments, finding them present in all sampled rivers and a canal at concentrations broadly consistent with international reports. OPEs are chemicals used in plastics and textiles that leach into waterways, and while most posed low ecological risk, one compound (EHDPP) showed moderate risk in one location, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring.

2023 Emerging contaminants 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and co-occurrence of microplastics and co-existing pollutants in bottom water and sediment of the East China Sea

This study characterized the co-occurrence of microplastics and co-existing pollutants (heavy metals and plastic additives) in bottom water and sediment of the East China Sea. Microplastics were widely distributed and carried adsorbed chemical contaminants at concentrations posing potential ecological risks, with plastic-associated pollutants correlated with specific polymer types and particle aging states.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Persistent organic pollutants carried on plastic resin pellets from two beaches in China

Researchers found that plastic resin pellets collected from two Chinese beaches contained significant concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and other persistent organic pollutants sorbed to their surfaces. The findings confirm that plastic pellets act as vectors for long-range transport of multiple classes of hydrophobic chemical contaminants in marine environments.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 209 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of organophosphate ester contamination and multiple influencing factors in various agricultural soils across China: A national-scale investigation

Researchers conducted a national-scale investigation of organophosphate ester (OPE) contamination across different agricultural land types in China, examining the influence of agronomic practices and environmental factors alongside co-occurring microplastics and phthalate esters. The study found OPEs widely distributed in farmland soils and identified key drivers of contamination levels including soil properties, cropping systems, and proximity to pollution sources.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

A national-scale characterization of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in intertidal sediment of China: Occurrence, fate and influential factors

Researchers analyzed organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contamination across 14 intertidal zones in China using 324 sediment samples, finding DDTs and HCHs as dominant contaminants with significant spatial variation and evidence suggesting ongoing — not merely historical — use of some restricted compounds.

2019 Environmental Pollution 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and Health Risks of Phthalate Ester Contamination in Soil and Plants in Coastal Areas of South China

Researchers investigated phthalate ester contamination across 37 sites in coastal South China, finding widespread contamination in both soil and plants with concentrations posing potential health risks, particularly from the plasticizers DEHP and DBP.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Leaching kinetics and bioaccumulation potential of additive-derived organophosphate esters in microplastics

Researchers studied the leaching kinetics of organophosphate ester additives from microplastics in aquatic environments, finding that these flame retardants and plasticizers are released at rates that depend on temperature and water chemistry, with implications for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms.

2024 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and spatial distribution of phthalate esters in sediments of the Bohai and Yellow seas

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.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 95 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment and sources identification of microplastics, PAHs and OCPs in the Luoyuan Bay, China: Based on multi-statistical analysis

Researchers applied multi-statistical analysis to assess microplastics, PAHs, and organochlorine pesticides in sediments across 21 sites in Luoyuan Bay, a mariculture-influenced bay in southeastern China, finding rayon fragments dominated microplastics and that pollution sources varied spatially across the bay. The upper bay was dominated by microplastic pollution while the lower bay showed higher persistent organic pollutant contamination.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of organophosphate flame retardants in Mediterranean Boops boops and their relationship to anthropization levels and microplastic ingestion

Flame retardant chemicals called organophosphates were detected in the muscle tissue of bogue fish from the Mediterranean, with higher concentrations in fish from more urbanized areas. Microplastics may act as carriers for these chemicals, concentrating them in fish tissue and potentially in people who eat seafood.

2020 Chemosphere 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Effective degradation of organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers in coastal sediments under high urban pressure

Researchers measured how quickly organophosphate ester (OPE) flame retardants and plasticizers — chemicals commonly added to plastics — break down in Mediterranean coastal sediments, finding half-lives of 17 to 77 days depending on whether microbes were present. Since OPEs are often associated with plastic pollution, this data helps refine risk assessments for how long these plastic-linked chemicals persist in marine environments.

2022 Scientific Reports 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Contaminant occurrence, distribution and ecological risk assessment of phthalate esters in the Persian Gulf

This study measured phthalate esters, chemicals commonly used as plastic softeners, in water samples from the Persian Gulf and assessed their ecological risk. Several phthalate compounds were detected at levels that pose potential risks to aquatic organisms. These chemicals are classified as endocrine disruptors and possible carcinogens, and since they leach from microplastics in water, their presence highlights how plastic pollution can introduce harmful chemicals into marine environments and the seafood supply.

2023 PLoS ONE 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the potential risk and relationship between microplastics and phthalates in surface seawater of a heavily human-impacted metropolitan bay in northern China

A survey of Jiaozhou Bay in northern China found a strong correlation between microplastic abundance and concentrations of phthalate plasticizers in surface seawater, with both higher near river inputs and sewage treatment plants. The ecological risk from phthalates was moderate for one compound (di-n-butyl phthalate), and overall microplastic pollution levels were also moderate.

2020 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in surficial sediments from some UK rivers and canals: seasonal and spatial variation and relationship with concentrations of organophosphate esters

Researchers collected seasonal freshwater sediment samples from three UK rivers and an urban canal to examine microplastic abundance and its relationship with organophosphate ester (OPE) concentrations, finding spatial and temporal variation in MP levels and investigating co-contamination patterns with plastic additive chemicals.

2025 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts
Article Tier 2

Phthalates and organophosphate esters in surface water, sediments and zooplankton of the NW Mediterranean Sea: Exploring links with microplastic abundance and accumulation in the marine food web

Phthalate esters and organophosphate esters were measured alongside microplastics in surface seawater, sediment, and zooplankton from Marseille Bay in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Co-occurrence of microplastics and plastic additive chemicals in multiple environmental compartments including zooplankton confirmed trophic transfer of both particle and chemical contaminants.

2020 Environmental Pollution 147 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk Assessment of Phthalate Esters in Baiyangdian Lake and Typical Rivers in China

Researchers assessed phthalate ester contamination in Baiyangdian Lake and surrounding rivers in China, finding widespread distribution of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals at concentrations that pose ecological risks to aquatic organisms, particularly during warmer seasons.

2023 Toxics 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential risk of co-occurrence of microplastics and chlorinated persistent organic pollutants to coastal wetlands: Evidence from a case study

Researchers investigated the co-occurrence of microplastics and chlorinated persistent organic pollutants in coastal wetlands of Zhejiang, China, finding microplastics in 100 percent of samples. Although wetland microplastic levels were lower than other land types, the plastics showed strong capacity to adsorb and concentrate toxic organic chemicals. The study highlights the combined contamination risk that microplastics and persistent pollutants pose to sensitive coastal ecosystems.

2023 Environmental Pollution 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-occurrence of light microplastics and phthalate esters in soils of China

Researchers investigated the co-occurrence of light microplastics and phthalate esters in Chinese soils, finding both pollutants present in all sampled agricultural and urban soils with significant correlations suggesting shared sources of plastic-derived contamination.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 33 citations