Organophosphate (OP) diesters and a review of sources, chemical properties, environmental occurrence, adverse effects, and future directions

Environ Int. 2021 Jun 16;155:106691. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106691. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTOver the course of the continual phase-outs of toxic halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), there has been an increasing demand for organophosphate esters (OPEs) in global FR markets. OPE-FRs have largely been identified as OP triesters, which have a basic chemical structure of O = P(OR)3. In addition to OP triesters, OPEs can refer to another class of related substances, namely, OP diesters that have a typical chemical structure of O = P(OR)2(OH)). OP diesters are known as biotic or abiotic degradation products of OP triesters. In recent years, environmental scientists have proven that OP diesters widely exist in a variety of environmental matrices and biotic samples around the world, implying the potential risks from OP diester exposure to biota and humans in the environment. Here, we have reviewed the scientific literature for studies involving OP diesters and up to the end of 2020. The aim of the present review is to assess the present understanding of the physicochemical properties, sources (industrial production and degradation), environmental occurrence of OP diesters, and adverse effects to exposed organisms. Based on the literature in the Web of Science core collection, we found that at least 23 OP diesters have been reported as contaminants in various environments or as degradation products of OP triesters. The physicochemical properties of OP diesters vary depending ...
Source: Environment International - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: research