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The Distribution and Pollution Pathway Analysis of Perfluoroalkyl Acids (PFAAs) in a Typical Agricultural Plastic Greenhouse for Cultivated Vegetables
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This research examined whether microplastics in agricultural soil affect seed germination and early plant growth. High concentrations of plastic particles reduced germination rates and seedling biomass for multiple crop species, suggesting that heavy soil microplastic contamination could potentially compromise agricultural productivity.
Plastic greenhouses play an important role in vegetable cultivation in China. While evaluations have attributed perfluoroalkyl acid contamination in greenhouse vegetables primarily to irrigation water, the potential contribution from greenhouse plastic films has consistently been overlooked, despite PFAAs’ long-standing use as anti-fogging agents. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of PFAA contamination was conducted in greenhouses at the Shouguang vegetable base in China, based on extensive environmental and crop sample collection, followed by analysis using LC-MS/MS. PFAAs are still used in greenhouse plastic film, and their migration to the surface water mist and the air inside the greenhouse was also observed. Elevated levels of PFAA pollution were found near the corner areas of greenhouses with longer service times, leading to further pollution of the soil and nearby vegetables. This is considered as the primary source which may have been caused by PFAAs migrating with condensation from the plastic film and accumulating for decades. However, polluted irrigation water still remains the dominate source of PFAAs in other areas inside the greenhouse. Based on our analysis, we conclude that PFAAs present in plastic films could be the primary contaminant source for vegetables in specific zones. This underscores the urgent need for heightened vigilance towards environmental pollution within agricultural facilities, which currently represent the most prevalent mode of intensive vegetable cultivation in China.
More Papers Like This
From greenhouses to open fields: Multidimensional drivers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) residues in farmland soils across China.
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Researchers conducted a nationwide field survey across China comparing PFAS contamination in greenhouse, film-mulched, and open farmland soils, revealing that plastic mulching films are a significant driver of PFAS accumulation in agricultural soils and identifying distinct source contributions and transport mechanisms for each farmland type.
Accumulation and Transport of Phthalic Acid Esters in the Soil-Plant System of Agricultural Fields with Different Years of Film Mulching
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Agricultural plastic mulch films release phthalate plasticizers (PAEs) into surrounding soil over time, and these chemicals accumulate in crops like maize and cabbage. After more than 10 years of continuous mulching, DEHP levels in cabbage leaves exceeded China's national food safety limits, highlighting a direct pathway for plastic-associated chemical contaminants to enter the human food supply.
Greenhouse farming as a source of macroplastic and microplastics contamination in agricultural soils: a case study from Southeast-Hungary
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Researchers quantified macroplastic and microplastic contamination in greenhouse farmland soils in China, finding significant accumulation of polyethylene film fragments throughout the soil profile and in underlying groundwater, demonstrating that greenhouse agriculture is a substantial source of agricultural soil plastic pollution.
Progress of Microplastic Pollution in Vegetable Land in Guanzhong Plain Area
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This study reviews the current state of microplastic pollution in vegetable fields across the Guanzhong Plain in China, where widespread use of agricultural mulch film has contributed to soil contamination. Researchers analyzed the key factors affecting microplastic accumulation and migration in agricultural soils. The study proposes targeted prevention measures to protect the ecological environment and ensure safe vegetable production in the region.
A case on source to soil to solutions: Distribution characteristics of microplastics in farmland soil of the largest vegetable base in Northwest China
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in farmland soil at the largest vegetable growing region in northwest China, finding an average of nearly 2,000 particles per kilogram of soil. Greenhouse-farmed soil had more microplastics than open-field soil, and contamination increased with years of farming, with plastic mulch film, irrigation water, and fertilizer all contributing to the pollution. While current levels were assessed as low ecological risk, the steady accumulation over time raises concerns about long-term food safety in intensively farmed regions.
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