Distributions, temporal trends and ecological risks of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in sediments of Jiaozhou Bay, China

Spatiotemporal distribution and ecological risk of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic polymer and plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were investigated using both surface and core sediments in Jiaozhou Bay, China. The concentrations of PET and DEHP ranged 210.6–1929.7 μg/kg and 0–591.2 μg/kg, respectively. The depth profiles of PET and DEHP in the sediment cores indicated that PET and DEHP pollution increased since the 1970s, which is in accord with the regional PET and DEHP consumption history. The levels of PET in Jiaozhou Bay was found to represent low ecological risk based on the assessment models for Potential Ecological Risk factor and Potential Ecological Risk. The amounts of DEHP also posed a low risk to the aquatic organisms in the sediment phase as indicated by the Risk Quotient method. •PET and DEHP concentrations in the surface sediments were between 210.6–19,297.7 and 0–591.2 μg/kg, respectively.•PET and DEHP loading to the sediments increased rapidly with anthropogenic activities since the 1970s.•PET and DEHP in the sediments pose a low ecological risk.•The mass concentration of PET in the bay sediment was firstly reported.