Table 1_Occurrence, concentration profiles, and human health risks of 18 phthalate esters in tap water and community direct-drinking water in Bengbu, China.pdf

Introduction<p>Phthalate esters (PAEs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants and endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have raised growing public health concerns.</p>Methods<p>The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence, concentration profiles, and human health risks of 18 PAEs in tap water (n = 64) and community direct-drinking water (n = 27) samples collected from Bengbu, China.</p>Results<p>Most PAE congeners were widely detected, with the total concentrations of Σ₁₈PAEs ranging from 189.3 to 53,385 ng/L in tap water and 101.6−15,238 ng/L in direct-drinking water, respectively.

Dimethyl phthalate, DAP, DBP, DIBP, and DPhP were the most abundant congeners in both water types. The mean Σ₁₈PAEs concentrations in tap water (3497 ng/L) was approximately 1.4 times higher than those in direct-drinking water (2516 ng/L). Notably, the concentrations of DBP in five tap water and two direct-drinking water samples exceeded the limits specified in the Chinese drinking water standard (3 µg/L for DBP).</p>Discussion<p>The estimated daily intakes of PAEs via drinking water ingestion were below the tolerable daily intake guidelines, and hazard quotients for all detected PAEs were less than 1, indicating no significant non-carcinogenic health risks.