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Environmental fate of atrazine in surface water: The dual role of photoaged microplastics in adsorption and photodegradation
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Lab tests examined how microplastics (weathered and fresh plastic particles) affect the weedkiller atrazine in water. Weathered plastics absorbed more atrazine and sped up its breakdown via reactive chemicals formed under light, though aged polystyrene slightly slowed breakdown in some conditions, with the type of plastic mattering more than weathering.
The persistence of the pesticide atrazine (ATZ) in surface waters is significantly influenced by microplastics (MPs), which can adsorb the contaminant, act as a vector, and alter its photochemical degradation. This study evaluated the effects of pristine and aged polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) MPs on the adsorption and photodegradation of ATZ. Environmental weathering was simulated through artificial aging, which induced morphological changes such as increased roughness and cavity formation, thereby enhancing ATZ adsorption capacities. Adsorption kinetic studies indicated a predominantly physical process controlled by external diffusion and hydrophobic interactions, exhibiting a clear dependence on MP dosage. In photochemical experiments, the presence of aged MPs accelerated the indirect photodegradation of ATZ mediated by reactive oxygen species (HO • and 3 CBBP ⁎ ). However, aged PS caused a slight reduction in degradation efficiency in HO • -rich systems, likely due to optical shielding or the release of plastic additives. Scavenger assays revealed that the generation of reactive species (RS) and transient intermediates from MPs is governed more by the polymer matrix than by environmental aging. Furthermore, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of oxygen-centered environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) on irradiated MPs, especially PS, shedding light on the mechanisms driving ATZ fate in MP-contaminated aquatic environments.
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Behavior and mechanism of atrazine adsorption on pristine and aged microplastics in the aquatic environment: Kinetic and thermodynamic studies
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Researchers systematically explored how the pesticide atrazine adsorbs onto both pristine and aged microplastics in aquatic environments. The study found that aged microplastics had higher adsorption capacities than pristine ones, with the aging process and pH significantly affecting surface charge and adsorption behavior, suggesting that weathered microplastics may carry greater loads of chemical contaminants.
Effects of polymer type and photoaging of microplastics on co-adsorption of atrazine and bisphenol A and cake layer partitioning during microfiltration of surface water
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Tiny plastic particles in water can grab onto common pollutants like bisphenol A (BPA, found in plastics) and atrazine (a weed killer), essentially acting like magnets that carry these chemicals through water treatment systems. This study found that the type of plastic, how "weathered" it is, and water conditions (like salt levels) all affect how tightly these chemicals stick together and whether standard water filters can catch them — meaning water treatment plants may need to adjust their methods to fully remove these combined contaminants before water reaches your tap.
Investigation of the sorption behavior of atrazine in new and aged microplastic and evaluation of its phytotoxic potential
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Researchers studied the sorption of atrazine onto new and aged polyethylene microplastics in distilled and nutrient-enriched (eutrophic) water, then assessed the phytotoxic effects on Lactuca sativa germination. Aged MPs adsorbed more atrazine than new MPs, and the combination increased phytotoxicity over atrazine alone, showing that weathered microplastics amplify herbicide risks in aquatic environments.
Interactions between microplastics from agricultural films and soil in regulating atrazine adsorption: A mechanistic and environmental relevance study.
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Lab tests mixed microplastics from weathered or new plastic farm films into soil to see how they affect the soil's ability to hold the pesticide atrazine. Weathered plastic particles, which had rougher surfaces and oxygen-containing chemical groups, bound atrazine more strongly than new plastic, with particle size, amount of plastic, and aging level all affecting the results.
Aging of biodegradable-mulch-derived microplastics reduces their sorption capacity of atrazine
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UV aging of biodegradable PBAT and PBST microplastics reduced their sorption capacity for the herbicide atrazine, with partition coefficients declining for both aged polymers due to changes in surface area, hydrophobicity, polarity, and crystallinity.
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