Phthalates or phthalate esters, formed from phthalic acids and the alcohols with 1–14 carbon atoms, are extensively used as additives in the production of plastics and related products, such as packaging materials, toys, medical blood bags, hoses, floors, wallpapers, detergents, lubricants, and personal care products. Without stable chemical bonds to polymer, they can migrate easily from these products into the environment and pollute food, water, and air. Through drinking, digestion, and inhalation, the phthalates in the environment can easily enter into the human body and bioaccumulate in the adipose tissue. The rivers, lakes, seas, even drinking water, and rainwater around the world have been detected with phthalates. The epidemiological and laboratory evidence has shown their adverse effects on human health which leads to widespread concern all over the world. There have been numerous reports on their analytical methods in water samples in the past decade, which is beneficial to the accurate evaluation of their potential risk to human health, and their pollution trend predication and remediation effect assessment. The sample treatment methods of phthalates in water samples mainly include liquid-liquid extraction, liquid-liquid microextraction, solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction, and their derivative techniques. The separation and detection methods are mainly gas chromatography with flame ionization detection or mass spectrometric detection, high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection or mass spectrometric detection. Owing to the ubiquity of phthalates in the environment, strict prevention measures should be taken during the analysis of phthalates.

In the future, except for the development of novel adsorption materials for extraction of trace phthalates in water, the application of carbon nanotubes, magnetic carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, electrospun nanofibers will be further exploited. In addition to the highly sensitive gas and liquid chromatography coupled with a high-resolution mass spectrometer, it is also necessary to develop new analytical techniques that are capable of on-line or on-site detection, such as miscellaneous biosensors, micro-total analysis system, surface-enhanced Raman scattering system, and surface plasmon resonance system.