HA7 Phthalate Esters: Fate and Effects
201 Oregon Ballroom
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Thursday
() An assessment of risks posed to the terrestrial environment by phthalates in soil.
Parkerton, T1, Winkelmann, D1, 1 ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences Inc., Annandale, NJ, USA
ABSTRACT- Phthalates (PEs) are an important class of chemicals in commerce. These substances may enter soil via atmospheric deposition or sewage sludge amendment. To assess the potential risks posed to the terrestrial environment, a screening level risk assessment was performed for seven of the most widely used PEs (dimethy, diethyl, di-n-butyl, butyl benzyl, di-2-ethylhexyl, di-isononyl and di-isodecyl). Measured concentrations of PEs in soils and wastewater sludges collected from different locations across the globe were reviewed. Studies relevant for characterizing effects on direct (soil-dwelling organisms) and indirect (wildlife via the foodchain) terrestrial receptors were also summarized. Analysis of the available effects data revealed that direct toxicity concerns were found to drive the terrestrial toxicity assessment of shorter chain PEs while indirect effect endpoints dictated the effect assessment of longer alkyl chain PEs given conservative assumptions invoked in quantifying bioaccumulation in prey organisms. Comparison of soil exposure to effect concentrations for all PEs investigated indicated low risk quotients even for soils heavily amended with sewage sludge. The implications of this screening analysis for future regulatory decision-making and research are discussed.
Key words: soil, phthalates, sludge, risk