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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Microplastic formation and simultaneous release of phthalic acid esters from residual mulch film in soil through mechanical abrasion
Clear[Occurrence and Characteristics of Macro/Micro-plastics and Phthalates in Soils Under Different Plastic Film Mulching].
Researchers assessed residual characteristics of macroplastics, microplastics, and phthalate plasticizers in agricultural soils under different plastic film mulching treatments over a three-year field experiment, comparing traditional PE film with three types of biodegradable mulch and a no-mulch control. The study examined whether biodegradable film substitution effectively reduces soil plastic and PAE residual pollution.
Thickness-dependent release of microplastics and phthalic acid esters from polythene and biodegradable residual films in agricultural soils and its related productivity effects
Researchers conducted a two-year study comparing the release of microplastics and phthalic acid esters from polyethylene and biodegradable mulch films of different thicknesses in agricultural soil. The study found that biodegradable films degraded significantly more than polyethylene films, with thinner films breaking down faster, and that microplastic release from residual films can affect soil properties and crop productivity.
Leaching of phthalate acid esters from plastic mulch films and their degradation in response to UV irradiation and contrasting soil conditions
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.
Mulch-derived microplastic aging promotes phthalate esters and alters organic carbon fraction content in grassland and farmland soils
Researchers found that microplastics derived from agricultural plastic mulch undergo aging in soil, which promotes the release of phthalate ester contaminants and alters organic carbon content. The study compared black and white polyethylene mulch to biodegradable mulch in grassland and farmland soils over eight weeks, revealing that aging characteristics and environmental impacts vary by mulch type and soil context.
Agricultural mulch films as soil microplastic contamination factor
This review examines agricultural mulch films as a source of soil microplastic contamination, summarizing evidence on degradation rates, particle accumulation in soil profiles, and impacts on soil properties and biological communities over time.
Kinetics of plasticiser release and degradation in soils
Researchers measured the release of the plasticizer DEHTP from PVC microplastics in soil over three months and also assessed degradation rates of 12 phthalate and non-phthalate plasticizers. DEHTP was released rapidly from PVC pellets within two hours, and seven of the twelve plasticizers showed half-lives under 30 days in soil, suggesting most emerging plasticizers degrade relatively quickly but initial release is fast.
From intentionally used plastic films to soil microplastic contamination
Researchers examined how six different LDPE agricultural plastic films fragment into microplastics under UV radiation and mechanical stress, finding that film thickness and UV exposure time significantly influenced degradation rates, with thinner films fragmenting more rapidly into soil-contaminating microplastic particles.
Accumulation of soil microplastics and phthalate esters in nine typical Chinese croplands using plastic mulch film
Researchers conducted a harmonized analysis of microplastics and phthalate esters in agricultural soils from nine mulched crop regions across six Chinese provinces, finding microplastic abundances ranging from 2.4 million to higher concentrations in the 0–30 cm soil layer, with phthalate co-contamination.
Kinetics of microplastic generation from different types of mulch films in agricultural soil
Researchers investigated the kinetics of microplastic generation from different mulch films in agricultural soil, finding that weathering rates and microplastic formation patterns varied significantly between oxodegradable, biodegradable, and conventional plastic films.
Characteristics of microplastics and their effects on phthalates and microbial activity in greenhouse soil after long-term planting
Long-term greenhouse vegetable cultivation using plastic mulch resulted in accumulation of microplastics in soil, which altered microbial activity and phthalate levels in ways that changed with the number of planting years.
Effect of aging on the release of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate from biodegradable and petroleum-based microplastics into soil
This study found that aging processes like UV exposure and chemical oxidation cause microplastics to release more of the plasticizer DEHP, a potential carcinogen, into surrounding soil. Biodegradable PLA plastic released DEHP faster than conventional PVC or polystyrene when aged, suggesting that so-called eco-friendly plastics may not be safer in terms of chemical leaching. The findings are concerning because DEHP is known to disrupt hormones, and this study shows that weathered microplastics in soil could be a greater source of exposure than previously thought.
From plastic mulching to microplastic pollution : An effect assessment of microplastics in the soil-plant system
This review assessed how plastic mulching films contribute to agricultural microplastic pollution, finding that biodegradable alternatives rarely fully degrade under field conditions and instead fragment into microplastics, with both LDPE and biodegradable microplastics producing measurable ecological effects in soil-plant systems.
Environmental fate and effects of mulch films on agricultural soil: A systematic review from application to residual impact
This systematic review examines how plastic mulch films used in agriculture break down over time and release microplastics into farm soil. The films improve crop growth but create lasting environmental damage as plastic fragments accumulate and alter soil properties. The findings underscore the importance of developing truly biodegradable alternatives to protect farmland from microplastic pollution.
Effects of long-term plastic film mulching on microplastic and phthalate esters pollution in salt-affected soils: Microbial community shifts and enrichment of putative degraders
Researchers found that 1-30 years of continuous plastic film mulching in salinized cotton fields caused progressive accumulation of microplastics and their phthalate ester degradation products in soil, with co-contamination significantly altering soil microbial community composition and functional interactions.
A method for measuring the emissions of in situ agricultural plastic film microplastics by ultraviolet and mechanical abrasion
Researchers developed a method to measure in situ microplastic emissions from agricultural plastic films under combined UV and mechanical abrasion, providing the first quantitative approach to assess how field conditions cause polyethylene and PVC films to fragment into microplastics.
Plastic Mulch‐Derived Microplastics in Agricultural Soil Systems
This review examines how plastic mulch films widely used in agriculture degrade via photodegradation, chemical processes, and microbial activity to form microplastics, and discusses how these microplastics affect soil properties, plant growth, soil microbiomes, and broader agricultural ecosystem health.
Environmental fate of microplastics and common polymer additives in non-biodegradable plastic mulch applied agricultural soils
This review examines how plastic mulch films used in farming gradually break down and release both microplastics and chemical additives like phthalates and bisphenol A into agricultural soil. These chemicals have been found at concerning levels in farmland and can be taken up by crops, harm soil organisms like earthworms, and disrupt soil microbial communities, ultimately creating pathways for these toxins to enter our food.
Is mulch film itself the primary source of meso- and microplastics in the mulching cultivated soil? A preliminary field study with econometric methods
A field study examined whether mulch films were the primary source of meso- and microplastics in mulched agricultural soils using econometric methods to compare plastic-mulched and non-mulched fields, finding that while mulch contributed to soil plastic loads, it was not the sole source. The study challenges the assumption that plastic mulch is always the dominant microplastic source in farmed soils.
Environmental risk of multi-year polythene film mulching and its green solution in arid irrigation region
Researchers found that 19 years of polythene film mulching accumulated up to 2,900 microplastic particles per kilogram of soil along with elevated plasticizer concentrations, and demonstrated that biodegradable film alternatives could significantly reduce this environmental contamination.
Hazardous contaminants in plastics contained in compost and agricultural soil
Researchers found that compost contains significant macro- and microplastic contamination that transfers hazardous chemicals including phthalates to agricultural soil, with DEHP concentrations higher in compost-amended fields than untreated ones.
Plastic mulch film induced soil microplastic enrichment and its impact on wind-blown sand and dust
Field experiments in semi-arid northern China showed that plastic mulch film use significantly enriched microplastics in surface soils compared to unfilmed plots, and that wind-blown sand and dust from mulched farmland transported microplastics to surrounding environments.
Vertical distributions of microplastics in long-term mulched soils and their potential impacts on soil properties and microbial diversity
Microplastic concentrations were measured at different depths in agricultural soils that had been mulched with plastic film over many years, finding vertical stratification with higher concentrations near the surface. Long-term plastic mulching leads to progressive accumulation of microplastics throughout the soil profile.
Changes in Soil Properties Under the Influence of Microplastics in Plastic and Open Field Production in Three Serbian Valleys
Researchers examined soil physical, chemical, and biological properties in greenhouse and open-field soils across three Serbian valleys to test whether mulch film use leads to microplastic accumulation and soil alteration. Greenhouse soils showed elevated MP concentrations that correlated with changes in chemical and biological parameters, supporting the hypothesis that repeated plastic mulch use degrades soil quality.
Plastic mulching in agriculture. Trading short-term agronomic benefits for long-term soil degradation?
This study examined plastic mulch use in agriculture, arguing that short-term crop benefits come with long-term costs as mulch fragments accumulate in soil as microplastics and disrupt soil structure, biology, and water dynamics.