有机磷酸酯(OPEs)在全球环境中的流行率正在增加,这与多溴二苯醚(PBDEs)使用量的下降是一致的。多溴二苯醚,一类阻燃剂,由于其毒性和持久性特性,通过《斯德哥尔摩公约》被禁止并归类为持久性有机污染物(POPs)。尽管对其生态和健康后果缺乏全面了解,OPEs被采纳为多溴二苯醚的替代品。本研究旨在对各个领域的多溴二苯醚和OPEs进行比较评估,特别关注他们的坚持,生物蓄积性,和毒性(PBT)特性。本研究探索了物理化学性质(如分子量,辛醇-水分配系数,辛醇-空气分配系数,亨利定律常数,和蒸气压),环境行为,环境矩阵中的全球浓度(空气,水,和土壤),毒性,生物蓄积性,以及两组化合物的营养转移机制。在对环境和毒理学数据进行比较和分析的基础上,我们评估OPEs是否像多溴二苯醚一样代表了令人遗憾的替代和全球污染的另一个实例。我们的发现表明,物理和化学特性,环境行为,以及全球多溴二苯醚和OPEs的浓度,在许多情况下是相似和重叠的。值得注意的是,在北极和南极等某些原始地区,与多溴二苯醚相比,OPE浓度甚至激增了几个数量级,意味着远程运输。在许多情况下,OPEs的空气和水浓度比PBDEs增加。虽然在水生环境中,多溴二苯醚的生物累积因子(BAFs)(范围从4.8到7.5)与OPEs(-0.5到5.36)相比略有提高,两组化合物均表现出超过5000L/kg阈值的BAF值(log10BAF>3.7)。同样,在所有情况下,多溴二苯醚的营养放大因子(TMF)(范围为0.39至4.44)略超过OPEs的营养放大因子(范围为1.06至3.5)。代谢生物转化率(LogKM)和疏水性是决定其营养放大潜力的潜在主要因素。然而,多溴二苯醚和OPEs的许多化合物的TMF值高于1,表明生物放大潜力。总的来说,所有数据表明多溴二苯醚和OPEs具有生物积累和通过食物链转移的潜力。OPEs和多溴二苯醚存在无数的毒性终点,有明显的重叠,包括生殖问题,氧化应激,发育缺陷,肝功能障碍,DNA损伤,神经毒性,生殖异常,致癌作用,和行为改变。根据我们的调查和比较分析,我们得出的结论是,基于PBT性质,用OPEs代替PBDEs是令人遗憾的,强调政策改革和有效管理战略的紧迫性。必须在全球污染加剧之前解决这一困境。
The prevalence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in the global environment is increasing, which aligns with the decline in the usage of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). PBDEs, a category of flame retardants, were banned and classified as
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) through the Stockholm Convention due to their toxic and
persistent properties. Despite a lack of comprehensive understanding of their ecological and health consequences, OPEs were adopted as replacements for PBDEs. This research aims to offer a comparative assessment of PBDEs and OPEs in various domains, specifically focusing on their persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity (PBT) properties. This study explored physicochemical properties (such as molecular weight, octanol-water partition coefficient, octanol-air partition coefficient, Henry\'s law constant, and vapor pressures), environmental behaviors, global concentrations in environmental matrices (air, water, and soil), toxicities, bioaccumulation, and trophic transfer mechanisms of both groups of compounds. Based on the comparison and analysis of environmental and toxicological data, we evaluate whether OPEs represent another instance of regrettable substitution and global contamination as much as PBDEs. Our findings indicate that the physical and chemical characteristics, environmental behaviors, and global concentrations of PBDEs and OPEs, are similar and overlap in many instances. Notably, OPE concentrations have even surged by orders of several magnitude compared to PBDEs in certain pristine regions like the Arctic and Antarctic, implying long-range transport. In many instances, air and water concentrations of OPEs have been increased than PBDEs. While the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of PBDEs (ranging from 4.8 to 7.5) are slightly elevated compared to OPEs (-0.5 to 5.36) in aquatic environments, both groups of compounds exhibit BAF values beyond the threshold of 5000 L/kg (log10 BAF > 3.7). Similarly, the trophic magnification factors (TMFs) for PBDEs (ranging from 0.39 to 4.44) slightly surpass those for OPEs (ranging from 1.06 to 3.5) in all cases. Metabolic biotransformation rates (LogKM) and hydrophobicity are potentially major factors deciding their trophic magnification potential. However, many compounds of PBDEs and OPEs show TMF values higher than 1, indicating biomagnification potential. Collectively, all data suggest that PBDEs and OPEs have the potential to bioaccumulate and transfer through the food chain. OPEs and PBDEs present a myriad of toxicity endpoints, with notable overlaps encompassing reproductive issues, oxidative stress, developmental defects, liver dysfunction, DNA damage, neurological toxicity, reproductive anomalies, carcinogenic effects, and behavior changes. Based on our investigation and comparative analysis, we conclude that substituting PBDEs with OPEs is regrettable based on PBT properties, underscoring the urgency for policy reforms and effective management strategies. Addressing this predicament before an exacerbation of global contamination is imperative.