Targeted and non-targeted analyses reveal trophic biomagnification of rubber-derived chemicals in an estuarine food web near China's largest rubber production region

Yuan Liu; Jia-Ming Zhou; Nian-Nian Wu; Shan Liu; Xiao-Liang Liao; Haijiang Wu; Lin Zhu; Heng-Xiang Li; Lang Lin; Rui Hou; Zhi-Hua Li; Xiang-Rong Xu; Zhi-Feng Chen; Zongwei Cai

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138958

Targeted and non-targeted analyses reveal trophic biomagnification of rubber-derived chemicals in an estuarine food web near China's largest rubber production region

J Hazard Mater. 2025 Jun 15:495:138958. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138958. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yuan Liu¹, Jia-Ming Zhou², Nian-Nian Wu³, Shan Liu⁴, Xiao-Liang Liao², Haijiang Wu⁵, Lin Zhu⁵, Heng-Xiang Li⁶, Lang Lin⁶, Rui Hou⁶, Zhi-Hua Li⁷, Xiang-Rong Xu⁸, Zhi-Feng Chen⁹, Zongwei Cai⁵

Affiliations

¹ Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong 264209, China.
² Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
⁴ Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China; Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China. Electronic address: liushan@scsio.ac.cn.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong 999077, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China.
⁷ Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, Shandong 264209, China.
⁸ Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reefs in the South China Sea, Coral Reef Research Center of China, School of Marine Sciences, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China.
⁹ Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China. Electronic address: chenzhf@gdut.edu.cn.

PMID: 40532370
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138958

Abstract

The emergence of rubber-derived chemicals (RDCs) has garnered significant environmental attention, particularly N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine quinone (6PPD-Q) linked to acute mortality in salmonids. However, the trophic transfer of RDCs within marine ecosystems is notably sparse. Here, we investigated RDCs in the Nandu River estuary near China's largest rubber production region through an integrated targeted and non-targeted approach. Twelve targeted and 28 non-targeted RDCs were identified in biological samples. For targeted RDCs, total mean concentrations (ng/g, wet weight) showed a descending order of crab (702) > shellfish (531) > snail (491) > shrimp (392) > cuttlefish (342) > fish (190), while those for non-targeted RDCs followed the order of fish (3.91 ×10³) > shellfish (3.08 ×10³) > cuttlefish (2.96 ×10³) > shrimp (2.78 ×10³) > snail (1.61 ×10³) > crab (1.36 ×10³). Thirteen RDCs exhibited biomagnification potential with trophic magnification factors (TMFs) of 1.05-3.24, while nine compounds displayed biodilution trends (TMFs: 0.56-0.93). Organism-water partition coefficients, derived from multi-parameter linear free-energy relationships, more accurately elucidate biomagnification mechanisms of RDCs. Furthermore, 60 % of RDCs exhibited persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity properties. This research underscores the importance of integrating targeted and non-targeted approaches of RDCs in biomonitoring, offering a more comprehensive view of cumulative chemical risks to humans and wildlife.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation; Biomagnification mechanisms; Marine ecosystem; Non-targeted screening; Rubber-derived chemicals.