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A laboratory comparison of the interactions between three plastic mulch types and 38 active substances found in pesticides
Summary
This laboratory study tested the sorption interactions between 38 pesticide active substances and three types of plastic mulch film, finding that on average plastics reduced the rate of pesticide degradation in soil by about 30%. Plastic mulch films used widely in agriculture can alter the persistence and behavior of pesticides in soil, compounding their combined environmental impact.
The sorption behavior depended on both the pesticide and the plastic mulch type. On average, the sorption percentage was ~23% on LDPE and PAC and ~50% on Bio. The decay of active substances in the presence of plastic was ~30% lesser than the decay of active substances in solution alone. This study is the first attempt at assessing the behavior of a diversity of plastic mulches and pesticides to further define research needs.