Distribution, Source Apportionment and Risk Assessment of Phthalate Esters in the Overlying Water of Baiyang Lake, China

As a kind of endocrine disruptor compounds, the presence of phthalate esters (PAEs) has become a global concern. In this study, the pollution levels and spatial distribution of sixteen PAEs were investigated. Their potential sources and eco-environmental health risk were discussed in Baiyang Lake and its upstream rivers during different periods. PAEs were detected in all of samples, ranging from 1215 to 3014 ng·L(−1) in October 2020 and 1384 to 3399 ng·L(−1) in May 2021. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP) were the predominant monomers, with a detection rate of 100% and the highest concentrations in the overlying water. Restricted by multiple factors, the spatial distribution difference between Baiyang Lake and its upstream rivers in October was more significant than in May. The source apportionment revealed that agricultural cultivation and disorderly use and disposal of plastic products were the primary factors for the contamination. The human health risk assessment indicated that eight PAE congeners did not pose significant carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic harms to males, females and children. However, the ecological risks of DBP, DIBP and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate to algae, crustaceans and fish species were moderate or high-risk levels. This study provides an appropriate dataset for the assessment of the pollution of PEs to the water ecosystem affected by anthropogenic activities.