Phthalic acid esters(PAEs) belong to environmental endocrine disruptor.The dimethyl phthalate(DMP)

diethyl phthalate(DEP) and di-n-butyl phthalate(DBP) were selected for the radiation study.The removal efficiencies of DMP

DEP and DBP in drinking water by gamma-ray irradiation are discussed.The results show that these PAEs could be efficiently removed by gamma-ray irradiation.The removal efficiencies of DMP

DEP and DBP(12 mg/L) in aqueous solutions by 0.8 kGy gamma-ray treatment were 96.6%

94.5% and 86.2%.The absorbed dose needed for the removal of total carbon in aqueous solutions was much larger than the doses for PAEs degradation.When 2 kGy was selected

the removal efficiencies of TC for DMP

DEP and DBP were only 23.6%

14.3% and 12.9%.The study results also show that the radiation degradation reaction of PAEs should be divided into two stages: low dose addition reaction and high dose ring-opening reaction.This study is of significance in the disposal of micro-polluted drinking water.