Toxicity, residue dynamics, and reproductive effects of phthalate esters in aquatic invertebrates

Aquatic invertebrates were exposed to di-n-butyl and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate esters in water to determine toxicity, accumulation, and reproductive effects of these compounds. The acute toxicities were low and ranged from 2.1 mg/liter to greater than 32 mg/liter. Residue accumulation was rapid resulting in body residues 70-13,600 times that of the water concentration. Phthalate residues were essentially gone after 10 days in fresh water. A reproductive impairment of 60% occurred in Daphnia magna exposed continuously to 3 μg/liter of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate.