Occurrence and distribution of organophosphate flame retardants in seawater and sediment from coastal areas of the East China and Yellow Seas

Organophosphates (OPEs) are manmade organic pollutants that are widely used as flame retardants, plasticizers, and antifoaming and hydraulic agents. In this study, seven OPEs in seawater and sediment from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea were determined to study the distribution and diffusion behavior, and to evaluate the environmental risks. The ΣOPEs in the seawater and sediments ranged from below the method detection limit (1.0, indicating high ecological risks to aquatic organisms. [Display omitted] •Five OPEs were widely detected in seawater and sediment samples of the YS and ECS.•The dominant OPEs were TnBP, TDCPP and TmCP in the seawater and sediments.•Hydrological characteristics affect the distribution and partition of OPEs.•Fugacity showed the dominant OPEs could diffuse from sediment to water.•Medium or even high ecological risks of OPEs were indicated by the calculated HQs.