Levels and distribution of organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in fishes from Manila Bay, the Philippines

Organophosphorus compounds (OPCs) and stable isotope ratios (delta C-13 and delta N-15) were determined in 58 fishes belonging to 20 species collected from Manila Bay, the Philippines. OPCs wore detected in most of the samples and found up to mu g/g lw (lipid weight) level, suggesting their ubiquitous presence in the coastal marine environment of the Philippines. Higher levels (>1000 ng/g lw) of total OPCs were determined in yellowstriped goatfish, silver sillago, tripletail wrasse and bumpnose trevally indicates either their active uptake from ambient water or lower metabolic capacity of these species. Levels of triphenyl phosphate (TPhP) in demersal species showed a positive correlation with delta N-15, indicating that TPhP was adsorbed onto the particle, settled down to the bottom sediment and accumulated through the benthic food web rather than the pelagic. Estimated dietary intake of OPCs in Man la Bay fishes were four to five orders of magnitude lower than the proposed reference dose (RfD). (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.