In vitro and in silico investigations of the binary-mixture toxicity of phthalate esters and cadmium (II) to Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are widely used as plasticizers and have become one of the emerging contaminants with an increasing public concern. The residues of PAEs frequently co-exist with heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) in waters; however, their joint ecotoxicity remains largely unknown. We herein investigated the single and joint toxicity of commonly used PAEs and Cd using freshwater luminescent bacteria Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.