Impacts of Economic Development on Emerging Contaminants in the Hair of Adult Metropolitan Residents in China: Levels and Composition Profiles

In the context of rising urbanization, industrialization, and agricultural production in China, contamination by emerging contaminants (ECs) is increasing. However, differences in human exposure to ECs owing to regional economic development imbalances in China are limited. Therefore, in this study, our objective was to investigate the differences in the levels and composition profiles of hair ECs between residents of different regions in China as well as the impacts of socioeconomic factors on these EC levels and profiles. To this end, hair samples were collected from adult residents in 27 provincial capital cities in coastal and inland China and analyzed. The median concentrations of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and organophosphorus flame retardants (PFRs) in hair samples from coastal city residents were 3.64, 5.58, and 268 ng/g, respectively, while their concentrations in samples from inland city residents were 1.84, 3.85, and 202 ng/g, respectively. Thus, coastal residents showed significantly higher hair EC concentrations than inland residents ( p < 0.05). Further, BDE209 and p,p’ -DDE were identified as the predominant PBDEs and DDTs, respectively, in both coastal and inland cities. However, the dominant PFR in hair samples from coastal and inland city residents was tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) and triphenyl phosphate, respectively, possibly owing to the different usages of the PFRs. We also observed a significant correlation between the levels of p , pʹ -DDE and TCIPP and gross domestic product, gross secondary industry product, and the per capita consumption of aquatic products ( p < 0.05). This study provides a scientific basis for government decision-making regarding associated health and differentiated epidemic prevention owing to human exposure to ECs.