We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Polyethylene film incorporation into the horticultural soil of small periurban production units in Argentina
Summary
Researchers surveyed Argentine horticultural soils and found plastic film residues covering 10% of the soil area, then demonstrated in laboratory experiments that polyethylene film strongly adsorbs pesticides (up to 2,284 µg per gram of plastic versus 32 µg per gram of soil), suggesting plastic mulch residues act as pesticide reservoirs that may alter contaminant fate in agricultural fields.
Horticulture makes intensive use of soil and extensive use of polyethylene (PE) sheeting and pesticides, producing an environment where the dynamics between soil and plastics can affect pesticide fate. We have determined that the presence of plastic residues in the horticultural soil of small production units equals 10% of the soil area, being meso and macro-sections the predominant fragment sizes. All soil samples were taken from different plots located in Cuartel V, Moreno district, in the suburbs of Buenos Aires city, Argentina. Laboratory experiments were conducted to see the relations among pesticide, soil and PE film. Endosulfan recovery from LDPE films (25μm and 100μm) was studied, observing evidence that indicated migration to the inside of the plastic matrix. To further analyze the dynamics of pesticide migration to soil and atmosphere, experiments using chlorpyrifos, procymidone and trifluralin were performed in soil-plastic-atmosphere microenvironments, showing that up to 24h significant amounts of pesticides moved away from the PE film. To determine whether PE residues could act as potential pesticide collector in soil, column elution experiments were done using chlorpyrifos, procymidone and trifluralin. Results showed an important pesticide accumulation in the mulch film (584μg-2284μg pesticide/g plastic) compared to soil (13μg-32μg pesticide/g soil). Finally, chemical and photochemical degradation of deltamethrin adsorbed in PE film was studied, finding a protective effect on hydrolysis but no protective effect on photodegradation. We believe that a deeper understanding of the dynamics among soil, plastic and pesticides in horticultural productive systems may contribute to alert for the implications of PE use for plastic sheeting.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Adsorption behavior and mechanism of five pesticides on microplastics from agricultural polyethylene films
Researchers studied how five common pesticides adsorb onto polyethylene microplastics derived from agricultural soil films. They found that all five pesticides bind to microplastic surfaces, with the process driven by both physical and chemical interactions. The study suggests that microplastics in agricultural soils could act as carriers for pesticide contamination, with adsorption capacity varying depending on the pesticide's chemical properties.
Exploring sorption of pesticides and PAHs in microplastics derived from plastic mulch films used in modern agriculture
Researchers investigated how microplastics derived from agricultural mulch films sorb pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, finding significant uptake that could facilitate transfer of these contaminants through farming environments.
A comparative study on the adsorption behavior of pesticides by pristine and aged microplastics from agricultural polyethylene soil films
Researchers compared how pristine and aged agricultural polyethylene film microplastics adsorb pesticides. They found that aged films, which develop rougher surfaces, more cracks, and oxygen-containing chemical groups, adsorb pesticides more readily than pristine ones. The study suggests that weathered agricultural microplastics in soil may act as carriers for pesticide contamination, potentially increasing environmental and human health risks.
Evaluation of the sorption/desorption processes of pesticides in biodegradable mulch films used in agriculture
Researchers evaluated how biodegradable mulch films used in agriculture interact with pesticide residues compared to conventional polyethylene films. The study found that biodegradable films actually retained higher amounts of pesticide residues and released less back into the soil than polyethylene, suggesting that these supposedly greener alternatives may act as more persistent reservoirs for agricultural chemical contaminants.
Influence on the processes of retention and transport of pesticides and ecotoxicity of microplastics in a tropical soil
Researchers investigated how high-density polyethylene microplastics from agricultural mulch films affect the behavior of three pesticides in tropical soil, finding that microplastics altered pesticide sorption, transport, and leaching while also increasing ecotoxicological effects on earthworms.