[Distribution characteristics of phthalic acid esters in the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River].

Samples of water and sediment were collected at 30 sites in Wuhan section of the Yangtze River in high and low water period. Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) concentrations in each sample were determined by Gas Chromatography. The results were shown as follows: (1) PAEs concentrations in water phase of lakes and tributaries ranged from 0.114-1.259 microg/L in high water period and 0.25-132.12 microg/L in low water period, while slight increasing trends could be discovered in the main stream (0.034-0.456 microg/L and 35.73-91.22 microg/L in high and low water period, respectively). (2) PAEs concentrations in sediment phase of tributaries and lakes in low water period were from 6.3 to 478.9 microg/g. Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) both had strong trends from water to sediment phase, and the PAEs concentration ranges of the sediment phase in the main stream were 151.7-450.0 microg/g in high water period and 76.3-275.9 microg/g in low water period; DBP could transfer from sediment to water in high water period, while DEHP still had a potential for adsorption in low water period. (3) Among five studied PAEs compounds, DBP and DEHP were the main pollutants. According to the Surface Water Quality Criteria of China (GB 3838-2002), the limit values of DBP and DEHP for drinking water sources were 0.001 and 0.004 mg/L. All water samples in high water period were up to standard while the standard-exceeding sections accounted for 82.4% in low water period. (4) The PAEs pollution of the Wuhan section was similar to the Velino lake in Italy or the middle and lower stream of the Yellow River in China. However, PAEs concentrations in water phase of the Wuhan section in high water period were lower than most water bodies at home and abroad.