Occurrence and dietary exposure risk assessment of phthalate esters in Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) from Hubei, central China

ABSTRACT: Recently, the wide existence of phthalate esters (PAEs) in aquatic environment has drawn great public attention, due to their negative health impacts on human and aquatic organisms. Chinese mitten crab is a major aquaculture economic resource in Hubei, feeding a world population of more than 10 million. Due to their wide consumption and great economic value, it's imperative to study the dietary risks of PAEs in mitten crabs ensuring food safety. In this study, a simple and selective method based on matrix matched calibration strategy coupled with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was developed to quantify 17 PAEs in Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) from Hubei, central China and their dietary exposure risks were investigated. Recoveries were in the range of 56.9–131.2%. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.01–0.2 μg kg−1 and 0.5–7.5 μg kg−1, respectively. The PAEs were found to be present in both juvenile and adult mitten crabs in the study area. The mean concentration of total PAEs (∑17 PAEs) was 495.73–2033.39 μg kg−1 in crab muscles, and 159.69–651.69 μg kg−1 in hepatopancreas and gonad, respectively. The highest detection frequency of PAEs in all samples was di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and followed by dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP). The estimated daily intakes of DEHP, DBP and DiBP, were more than ten times greater than any other PAEs. Calculated hazard ratio of PAEs were all below 0.1, suggesting that intake of PAEs by dietary of mitten crabs had non-cancer risk for both adults and children. Overall, this study provides a reliable method to evaluate PAEs pollution in aquatic food and critical data on the occurrence of PAEs in Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) from Hubei, central China, which is a key part of PAEs pollution prevention in food source.