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Leaching of phthalate acid esters from plastic mulch films and their degradation in response to UV irradiation and contrasting soil conditions

Journal of Hazardous Materials 2022 99 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 60 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Samantha J. Viljoen, Samantha J. Viljoen, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Frances C. Hoyle, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Francesca L. Brailsford, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Daniel V. Murphy, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Frances C. Hoyle, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Daniel V. Murphy, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Daniel V. Murphy, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick David R. Chadwick Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, Davey L. Jones, David R. Chadwick

Summary

Researchers studied how phthalate plasticizers leach from agricultural mulch films and break down under different soil conditions and UV exposure. They found that sunlight accelerates the release of these chemicals from plastic, while soil microbes play a major role in their subsequent degradation. The study highlights how plastic mulch in farming can be a continuous source of potentially harmful chemical additives entering the soil environment.

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are commonly used plastic additives, not chemically bound to the plastic that migrate into surrounding environments, posing a threat to environmental and human health. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are two common PAEs found in agricultural soils, where degradation is attributed to microbial decomposition. Yet the impact of the plastic matrix on PAE degradation rates is poorly understood. Using <sup>14</sup>C-labelled DBP and DEHP we show that migration from the plastic matrix into soil represents a key rate limiting step in their bioavailability and subsequent degradation. Incorporating PAEs into plastic film decreased their degradation in soil, DBP (DEHP) from 79% to 21% (9% to <1%), over four months when compared to direct application of PAEs. Mimicking surface soil conditions, we demonstrated that exposure to ultraviolet radiation accelerated PAE mineralisation twofold. Turnover of PAE was promoted by the addition of biosolids, while the presence of plants and other organic residues failed to promote degradation. We conclude that PAEs persist in soil for longer than previously thought due to physical trapping within the plastic matrix, suggesting PAEs released from plastics over very long time periods lead to increasing levels of contamination.

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