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Aluminum and microplastic release from reflective agricultural films disrupt microbial communities and functions in soil

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2025 13 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 68 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Rui Jiang, Hao Zhang, Kai Wang, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Hao Zhang, Rui Jiang, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Yakov Kuzyakov Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Yakov Kuzyakov Markus Flury, Yakov Kuzyakov Markus Flury, Kai Wang, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Yakov Kuzyakov Yakov Kuzyakov Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Hao Zhang, Markus Flury, Wei Zhu, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Rui Jiang, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Yakov Kuzyakov Rui Jiang, Markus Flury, Rui Jiang, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Markus Flury, Yakov Kuzyakov Yakov Kuzyakov Yakov Kuzyakov Yakov Kuzyakov Yakov Kuzyakov Yakov Kuzyakov Yakov Kuzyakov Yakov Kuzyakov

Summary

Scientists found that reflective aluminum-coated agricultural films degrade in soil over time, releasing both aluminum and microplastics that disrupt soil chemistry and microbial communities important for nutrient cycling. This matters for food safety because these changes to soil health could affect crop quality and potentially introduce microplastics into the food supply.

Polymers

PE PET

Reflective agricultural films are widely used in vegetable production and orchards to repel pests, accelerate fruit ripening, and boost yields. These films, composed of a plastic base metallized with aluminum (Al), degrade over time in soil, releasing Al and microplastics. This study investigated the aging and weathering of Al-coated reflective films (polyethylene terephthalate, PET-based) under UV radiation, simulated rainfall, and soil burial for up to 120 days, assessing the effects of released Al and microplastics on soil chemistry and microbial communities. Weathering was confirmed by the formation of C-O/CO functional groups, an increasing carbonyl index, and the oxidation of Al to Al₂O₃, as shown by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Faster Al-coated shedding and PET oxidation were observed in the soil environment. Microplastics (0.5 % w/w) from the films reduced soil micronutrient availability (Fe, Mn, Cu), suppressed functional genes involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling, and shifted microbial communities towards oligotrophic bacteria enrichment (e.g., RB41, Candidatus_Udaeobacter, Gemmatimonadetes, and Chloroflexi) while reducing copiotrophic bacteria (e.g., Sphingomonas, Ellin6067, Dongia, Puia, and Flavisolibacter). Therefore, these findings highlight that reflective film weathering strongly alters soil nutrient content and microbial community composition, with potential implications for soil health and agricultural sustainability.

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