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Pollution characteristics and affecting factors of phthalate esters in agricultural soils in mainland China
Summary
Scientists tested farmland soil samples from across China and found phthalate plasticizers (chemicals added to make plastics flexible) in 100% of samples, with the highest levels in greenhouse soils. The concentrations correlated with microplastic levels and plastic mulch film use, and some samples exceeded safety thresholds for agricultural soil. These chemicals can transfer from soil to crops and pose health risks including hormone disruption, making this a food safety concern for the large populations that depend on Chinese agriculture.
Phthalate esters (PAEs), the most commonly produced and used plasticizers, are widely used in plastic products and agroecosystems, posing risks to agricultural products and human health. However, current research on PAE pollution characteristics in agricultural soils in China is not comprehensive; affecting factors and relationships with microplastics and plasticizer organophosphate esters have not been sufficiently considered. In this study, farmland soil samples were collected with field questionnaires on a national scale across mainland China. The results showed that the detection rate of PAEs was 100% and the ΣPAEs concentrations were 23.5 - 903 μg/kg. The level of PAEs was highest in the greenhouse, and significantly higher than that in mulched farmland (p < 0.05). The PAE concentration in northwestern China was the lowest among different physical geographic zones. PAEs in farmlands posed a low cancer risk to Chinese people. PAE pollution in farmlands was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by agronomic measures (such as disposal method), environmental factors, and socioeconomic factors. Overall, PAEs were significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.05) with organophosphate esters but not with microplastics. This study aims to provide scientific data for relevant prevention and control policies, as well as actionable recommendations for pollution reduction.
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