Bioaccumulation of organophosphorus flame retardants in marine organisms in Liaodong Bay and their potential ecological risks based on species sensitivity distribution

Although organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in aquatic environments have received increasing concern, little information is available on their bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in marine food webs. Consequently, the risks of OPFRs to marine ecosystems are unknown. In this study, seven OPFR compounds in marine biological samples collected from Liaodong Bay, Bohai Sea, were analyzed to evaluate their level and biological amplification effect in the marine food web. The total OPFRs of marine organisms in Liaodong Bay ranged from 2.60 to 776 ng/g ww, and lipids were critical factors affecting the concentration of OPFRs in marine species. Tris (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) were the OPFRs most frequently detected in marine species. Still, tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) was dominant in most marine species (16/24), and the content of chlorinated OPFRs was highest. At the same time, alkyl OPFRs and aryl OPFRs accounted for the same proportion. No correlation between OPFR concentration and the trophic level was observed in marine organisms from Liaodong Bay. It was shown in the results of the species sensitivity distribution that TCIPP in Chinese seawater does not pose a potential ecological risk to marine species. However, much work remains to be done on accumulating information and the ecological risks of OPFRs in different marine food webs.

Automated summary

This study analyzed seven organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in marine samples from Liaodong Bay to evaluate their accumulation and trophic transfer in marine food webs. The concentration of OPFRs in marine organisms ranged from 2.60 to 776 ng/g ww, with lipids being a critical factor affecting their levels. Tris (2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (TEHP) and tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP) were the most frequently detected OPFRs, while tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) was dominant in most marine species (16/24). No correlation between OPFR concentration and trophic level was observed in Liaodong Bay marine organisms. The results suggest that TCIPP in Chinese seawater does not pose a potential ecological risk to marine species, but further research is needed to understand the accumulation and ecological risks of OPFRs in different marine food webs.