Biogeochemical Controls on Latitudinal (42°N to 70°S) and Depth Distribution of Organophosphate Esters in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans.

ABSTRACT: Large-scale oceanic assessments are key for determining the persistence and long-range transport potential of organic pollutants, but there is a dearth of these for organophosphate esters (OPEs), widely used as flame retardants and plasticizers. This work reports the latitudinal distribution (42°N-70°S) and vertical profiles (from the surface to 2000 m depth) of OPEs in the Atlantic and Southern Oceans and explores their biogeochemical controls. The latitudinal gradient shows higher surface OPE concentrations near the equator than at higher latitudes, consistent with the prevailing oceanic and atmospheric circulation, and measured wet deposition events. At the deep chlorophyll maximum depth, there was an inverse correlation between the concentrations of the OPEs and phytoplankton biomass,

SUBMITTER: Trilla-Prieto N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11948325 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature