The presence of bisphenol analogues in the environment, commonly used as plasticizers, is generally linked to anthropogenic activities. However, the precise mechanisms through which anthropogenic activities influence their occurrence and transport from river to sea remain unclear. In this study, we investigated fourteen bisphenol analogues (BPs) in surface water and groundwater from the Zhangjiang River-Dongshan Bay basin. The results indicated that bisphenol A (BPA) was the predominant bisphenol in the water, with concentrations ranging from non-detectable (n.d.) to 15.77 ng/L, followed by 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone (HBP; n.d.–10.57 ng/L) and bisphenol S (BPS; n.d.–9.33 ng/L). The high concentration of ΣBPs and the high proportion of HBP suggest ongoing contamination by bisphenol analogues in villages. Elevated BPA levels near wastewater treatment plants indicate point-source pollution in towns. Land use data further suggest that soil contamination from cultivated areas and relatively low exchange capacity underground will contribute to the accumulation of BPA in groundwater. Source analysis revealed that the BPs in Dongshan Bay differ from those in the Zhangjiang River and groundwater. The estimated risk quotient (RQ) values suggest that the ecological and human health risks associated with the target BPs are acceptable. This study provides reliable and detailed data for a comprehensive evaluation of how anthropogenic activities affect the environmental behavior of bisphenols.
 

bisphenol,anthropogenic activities,land use type,source analysis