A review of organophosphorus esters in soil: Pollution status, migration, risks, and transformation

Organophosphorus esters (OPEs) are extensively used as flame retardants and plasticizers in various industrial products. However, their release into the environment and associated toxicity have garnered increasing research attention. This study provides an overview of OPEs in soil, focusing on pollution sources, distribution, migration, risks, and transformation. Existing studies suggest that OPEs are widely present in soil, with concentrations ranging from non-detectable levels to 80,300 ng/g. These compounds can migrate to other environmental media through processes such as adsorption, desorption, volatilization, and bioaccumulation. OPEs exhibit reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity, and neurotoxicity to soil fauna. In soil, OPEs can undergo hydrolysis and photolysis to degrade into diesters or monoesters, or they can biodegrade through specific enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Finally, this study discusses unresolved issues and future research directions on OPEs in soil, aiming to provide valuable references for related fields.