Levels and distributions of organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers in sediment from Taihu Lake, China

The concentrations and distribution of seven organophosphate flame retardants and plasticizers (OPs) were investigated in 28 sediment samples collected from Taihu Lake. The analytes were ultrasonically extracted, enriched using solid‐phase extraction, and determined by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The results indicated that the analytes were all detected in the sediments. The total concentrations of seven OPs ranged from 3.38 to 14.25 µg/kg, and tris (2‐chloroiso‐propyl) phosphate (TCPP), tris (2‐chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), and tris (2‐butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP) were the dominant compounds, with concentrations ranging from