Observed Concentrations in the Environment

Abstract

Measured concentrations of six phthalate esters in seven environmental media are compiled and analyzed. The data are predominantly from Europe, the United States, and Japan. The six phthalate esters are dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP). The media addressed are water, sediment, soil, air, dust, food, wastewater, sewage sludges, and rainwater.

The reported concentrations vary widely as a result of several factors including analytical error, sample contamination, and proximity to a variety of past and present sources. To gain an impression of the absolute levels and distributions, histograms are prepared with binning on a semi-decade logarithmic scale. Cumulative histograms are also prepared to convey an impression of cumulative distribution. To gain an appreciation of the relative concentrations in various media, fugacities are estimated and plotted, thus revealing the relative equilibrium status between media and any biomagnification. These plots suggest that phthalate esters are not persistent in the environment and do not biomagnify, as they are rapidly metabolized in organisms.