Residues of non-phthalate plasticizers in seawater and sediments from Osaka Bay, Japan

NPPs (Non-phthalate plasticizers) are used as alternative plasticizers to phthalate esters, but there is limited knowledge on environmental residues, and they have not been reported in Japan. A method to analyze NPPs in seawater using solid-phase extraction was developed, and the residual burden of Diisobutyl adipate (DIBA), Acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC), Di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), Di-(2-ethylhexyl) sebacate (DEHS) and Trioctyl trimellitate (TOTM) in seawater and sediment from the Osaka Bay was measured. Using an Oasis Max column and acetone as the eluting solvent, the recovery of the target substances in seawater is >68 %. In Osaka Bay, no NPPs were detected in seawater. On the other hand, ATBC and TOTM were detected in the sediment at 36–69 ng/g and 47–131 ng/g, respectively, from about half of the 14 sites, while DEHA and DEHS were detected at 83 ng/g and 181 ng/g, respectively, from only one site.