Parabens and their metabolite in surface water and sediment from the Yellow River and the Huai River in Henan Province: Spatial distribution, seasonal variation and risk assessment.

In this study, six alkyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acids (parabens) and their metabolite, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HB) were simultaneously determined in surface water and sediment from the Yellow River and the Huai River in Henan Province, China. Concentrations of ∑parabens in surface water were 3.31-55.2 ng/L in the Yellow River and 15.0-164 ng/L in the Huai River, while in the sediment, concentrations of ∑parabens were 13.3-37.2 ng/g and 16.1-31.6 ng/g, respectively. Compared with other studies, levels of parabens in the studied area were relatively high in the sediments but middle in the surface water. MeP and PrP were the most abundant parabens, and were detected in all sampling sites. Contributions of EtP, BzP, BuP, and HeP to ∑parabens were each no more than 10%. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid was found in all samples albeit at low concentrations. Significant positive correlations among parabens suggest similar sources of parabens in the Yellow River and the HuaiRiver. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) had an important effect on parabens in the surface water of the Yellow and Huai Rivers. Due to low dilution of discharges, high concentrations of parabens were found during moderate precipitation season as well as minimal precipitation season in surface water. However, no apparent seasonal variation of parabens in surface sediment was observed. Hazard quotients showed that the ecological risks of parabens was low in the studied area.