A Review of the Occurrence, Most Relevant Analytical Method, and Possible Treatment for Di-Ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP) in the Water Environment

The purpose of this paper is to collect, analyze, and review literature in the occurrence of DEHP, detecting methods, and possible water treatments for the compound. The environmental and health effects of the exposure to DEHP are also described to help understand and recognize the importance of developing reliable techniques to trace, and clean our waters from possible contamination with this highly commercial compound worldwide. The most reliable and available technique to accurately measure DEHP, even in small amounts, is also presented in the paper as the result of a study done around the nation. Treatments of phthalates in sewage treatment plants (STP) are discussed after reviewing some studies done in STP around the world. The paper proposes further investigation in the factors affecting the results in the studies done in STP, and advises to take into account the possible leach of the DEHP from pipes and filter media used during the treatment process. Finally, a promising, low cost, environmental friendly treatment method is described as an efficient technique to remove DEHP from water.