Uptake and distribution of bisphenol A and nonylphenol in vegetable crops irrigated with reclaimed water

• BPA was more uniformly distributed between roots, stems, and leaves in lettuce.
• NP concentrations were highest at site of exposure for both crops.
• BPA concentrations were highest at site of exposure in tomatoes only.
• Estimated daily intake of BPA ranged from 8.9 to 62.9 μg.
• Estimated daily intake of NP ranged from 11.9 to 95.1 μg.

The potential uptake and distribution of bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) (from reclaimed irrigation water) in edible crops was investigated. BPA and NP were spiked into simulated reclaimed water at environmentally relevant concentrations. Two crops (lettuce, Lactuca sativa and tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum) were grown hydroponically in a greenhouse using the spiked irrigation water under two irrigation exposure scenarios (overhead foliar exposure and subsurface root exposure). BPA concentrations in tomato fruit were 26.6 ± 5.8 (root exposure) and 18.3 ± 3.5 (foliar exposure) μg kg−1, while concentrations in lettuce leaves were 80.6 ± 23.1 (root exposure) and 128.9 ± 17.4 (foliar exposure) μg kg−1. NP concentrations in tomato fruit were 46.1 ± 6.6 (root exposure) and 24.6 ± 6.4 (foliar exposure) μg kg−1, while concentrations in lettuce leaves were 144.1 ± 9.2 (root exposure) and 195.0 ± 16.9 (foliar exposure) μg kg−1. BPA was relatively mobile in lettuce plants regardless of exposure route. Limited mobility was observed for NP in both crops and BPA in tomatoes. The estimated daily intake of BPA and NP through consumption of vegetables irrigated with reclaimed water ranged from 8.9–62.9 to 11.9–95.1 μg, respectively, depending on the exposure route.