Investigation of the role of distances from liquid crystal monomer (LCM) factories on distribution of LCMs in surface soil samples

Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), which are commonly used in electronic device screens, have attracted attention as a potential class of emerging organic pollutants with persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) properties. This study involved the collection of 54 surface soil samples around one LC industrial park at increasing spatial distances within 1 km, 1-3 km, and 3-5 km from the center of the LC industrial park. Our observations revealed the presence of LCMs in 46 of 54 surface soil samples examined. Of the 39 target LCMs, 36 were identified, comprising 14 non-fluorinated and 22 fluorinated LCMs. Nine LCMs were detected at frequencies exceeding 50%, with 3bcHdFB exhibiting the highest detection frequency of 59% in the soil samples. The total LCM concentrations across the 46 sampling locations varied from 0.0072 to 17.24 ng/g dw, with the highest total concentrations at sampling sites within 1 km of the liquid crystal plant, suggesting that manufacturing processes may be a potential source for LCM release into the environment. Differences were observed in the LCM contamination patterns among the three sampling areas. Additionally, we observed a decrease in the median LCM concentration with increasing distance from the center of the LC industrial park. However, no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in LCM concentrations were observed across the three distances assessed in this study. This may be owing to the limited variety of target compounds analyzed and the limited number of soil samples. Our results emphasize that further studies on the emissions and pollution characteristics of LCMs during production are warranted.