Distribution, bioaccumulation and human exposure risk of bisphenol analogues, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether and its derivatives in the Dongjiang River basin, south China

Bisphenols, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE), and bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) are commonly used as raw materials or additives in the production of several industrial and consumer products. However, information regarding the occurrence and distribution of these industrial chemicals in freshwater ecosystem is limited. In this study, four bisphenols, six BADGEs, and three BFDGEs were determined in abiotic and biotic samples collected from the Dongjiang River basin in southern China. Among the four bisphenols, BPA was widely present in all samples analyzed including surface water (median: 1.81 ng/L), sediment (3.1 ng/g dw), aquatic plants (3.69 ng/g dw), algae (7.57 ng/g dw), zooplankton (6.17 ng/g dw), and fish muscle (5.28 ng/g dw). Among the nine BADGEs and BFDGEs analyzed, BADGE, BADGE•H2O, BADGE·HCl·H2O and BADGE•2H2O was found in all sample types. Although the median concentration of BADGE•2H2O in surface water was below LOQ, this compound was found at median concentrations of 2.61, 3.59, 1.03, 1.69, and 49.8 ng/g dw in sediment, plants, algae, zooplankton, and fish muscle, respectively. Significant positive linear correlations were found among logarithmic transformed concentrations of BPA, BADGE, BADGE•H2O, BADGE•HCl•H2O, and BADGE•2H2O in sediment. The bioconcentration factor (logBCF) values of BADGE, BADGE•H2O, BADGE•HCl, BADGE•HCl•H2O, BADGE•2H2O, and BADGE•2HCl in fish, plants, algae, and zooplankton were > 3.3 L/kg (wet weight), indicating that these chemicals possess moderate bioaccumulation potential. The estimated daily total intake of bisphenols and BADGEs through fish consumption was 75.1 ng/kg bw/day for urban adult residents. The study provides baseline information on the occurrence of bisphenols, BADGEs, and BFDGEs in a freshwater ecosystem. [Display omitted] •Widespread occurrence of bisphenols and BADGEs in the Dongjiang River was observed.•Contamination level of BADGEs is comparable with that of BPA in the DJ River.•Moderate bioaccumulation potentials of BPA and BADGEs were observed in fish muscle.•An urban adult can uptake 75.1 ng/kg bw/day of analytes via fish ingestion.