Abstract:Levels and distributions of eight organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) in 17 sediment samples collected from Dongjiang River were investigated. The analytes were Soxhlet extracted, enriched using HLB solid-phase extraction, and determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. OPFRs were detected in all the sediments at concentrations ranging from 1.52~6.17ng/g. Tris (2-chloroiso-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) was the dominant compound, the highest concentration was 51.64ng/g, followed by TPP, TCEP and TDCP with highest concentrations 22.03,9.51 and 6.09ng/g, respectively. The other alkyled OPFRs were not detected, with the exception of triethyl phosphate (TEP). Highly significant correlation(r=0.74,P<0.001) between the concentrations of OPFRs and total organic carbon (TOC) was observed, indicating that TOC play a key role in determination of chlorinated OPFRs levels in the sediments. Although the total concentrations of the assessed OPFRs (average value of 25.43ng/g) were much lower than those of PBDEs (average value of 588ng/g), more environment concerns should be given for these emerging pollutants with the ban of the PBDEs in the worldwide.