Organophosphate esters (OPEs) in fine particulate matter (PM_(2.5)) in urban, e-waste, and background regions of South China

摘要

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are a focus of research because they are ubiquitous in the environment; however, there is still a limited understanding of the behaviors and fate of OPEs in the environment. In this study, we measured OPEs in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected from three regions in South China that have potentially different sources. The concentrations of Sigma OPEs in the rural electronic waste (e-waste) recycling area (3852-57,695 pg/m(3) with a median of 10,955 pg/m(3)) were significantly higher than those in the urban and background areas with concentrations of 314-9721 pg/m(3) (median = 2346 pg/m(3)) and 667 and 109,599 pg/m(3) (median = 2170 pg/m(3)), respectively. The OPE compositions in the urban and e-waste areas were generally similar. Correlations analysis with other components of PM2.5 (organic carbon, elemental carbon, and water soluble ions) indicated primary industrial and e-waste sources of OPEs in the urban and e-waste regions, respectively. Correlation analysis also revealed that relative humility played an important role in their air concentrations in the urban and background regions. The air-parcel backward trajectories of the background site demonstrated regional atmospheric transport of OPEs to this region from both the eastern industrial cities and the northern e-waste recycling region.