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2024 Vol.36, Issue 2 Preview Page

Research Article

Occurrence and Exposure Assessment of Organophosphate Flame Retardants through the Consumption of Drinking Water in Chuncheon

춘천시 먹는 물 중 유기인계난연제의 발생 및 위해성 평가

Sohwi Park1†
,
Minsu Shin2†
,
Hanbyul Park1
,
Gyojin Choo3*
박 소휘1†
,
신 민수2†
,
박 한별1
,
추 교진3*
1MS Student, Department of Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
2Student, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
3Professor, School of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
1강원대학교 자연과학대학 환경학과 석사과정
2강원대학교 농업생명과학대학 에코환경학과 학부과정
3강원대학교 농업생명과학대학 환경융합학부 교수
*Corresponding Author
†These authors contributed equally to this work.
30 June 2024. pp. 132-141
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Abstract

Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers in various applications, being considered major alternatives to brominated flame retardants. However, owing to their potential carcinogenic and neurotoxic properties and the fact they are ubiquitously detected in aquatic environments, concerns have been raised about their possible exposure to humans through drinking water consumption. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of OPFRs in drinking water from 23 sampling points in Chuncheon, a city supplied by two drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs): Yongsan (YS) and Soyang (SY). Additionally, the daily intake and hazard quotient (HQ) of OPFRs through drinking water consumption were estimated. The concentrations of total OPFRs ranged from 26.0 to 121 ng/L (median: 45.1 ng/L). Among the 13 OPFRs, highly soluble tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (15.9 ng/L, 29.9%), tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (17.3 ng/L, 32.6%), and tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (11.2 ng/L, 21.0%) were predominantly detected, whereas tri-n-propyl phosphate, cresyl diphenyl phosphate, and tri cresyl phosphate were not detected at any of the sites. No statistically significant difference in OPFR concentrations was observed between the SY (26.0–55.9 ng/L) and YS DWTPs (33.2–61.6 ng/L) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p > 0.05). However, compared with the sites located within 15 km of the two DWTPs, five points in Namsan-myeon located over 15 km from the SY DWTP had relatively higher OPFR concentrations (80.9–121 ng/L) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < 0.01), suggesting that contamination may increase with increasing distance from the water intake stations. However, no significant exposure risks through drinking water consumption were observed across all sampled locations (HQ < 1). This study provides valuable data for the future evaluation of potential fluctuations in OPFR concentrations in the drinking water of Chuncheon City and for assessing the extent of exposure among local residents.

Keywords
Chuncheon
Daily Intake
Drinking Water
Organophosphate Flame Retardants
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Information
  • Publisher :Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University
  • Publisher(Ko) :강원대학교 농업생명과학대학 농업생명과학연구원
  • Journal Title :Journal of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences
  • Journal Title(Ko) :농업생명환경연구
  • Volume : 36
  • No :2
  • Pages :132-141
  • Received Date : 2024-05-07
  • Revised Date : 2024-06-03
  • Accepted Date : 2024-06-05
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.22698/jales.20240012
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