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Characteristics and safety of phthalates(PAEs) for plastic mulch films in China
Received:November 17, 2020  
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KeyWord:plastic mulch film;phthalates;content features;risk assessment
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
DING Wei-li Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Residual Pollution in Agricultural Film, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China 
 
LIU Qi Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Residual Pollution in Agricultural Film, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China 
 
LIU Qiu-yun The Bio-composites Centre, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, England  
YAN Chang-rong Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Residual Pollution in Agricultural Film, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China 
yanchangrong@caas.cn 
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Abstract:
      To explore the features and security of the phthalates(PAEs) in plastic mulch films in China, 294 plastic mulch films were collected during 2019-2020, from which 69 samples were selected. The thickness, color, and mechanical properties of the plastic mulch films were systematically tested according to Polyethylene Blown Mulch Films for Agricultural Uses(GB 13735-2017) and Biodegradable Mulching Films for Agricultural Uses(GB 35795-2017). The initial contents of six kinds of optimal control phthalates including dimethyl phthalate(DMP), diethyl phthalate(DEP), di-n-butyl phthalate(DBP), butyl benzyl phthalate(BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and di-n-octyl phthalate(DNOP) in plastic mulch films were determined according to National Food Safety StandardDetermination of Phthalates in Contact Materials and Products of Food and Determination of Migration Amount(GB 31604.30-2016).Furthermore, the factors that might influence phthalates' content in mulch films, such as materials, color, thickness, and mechanical property, were analyzed, and the potential environmental risks in soils were assessed. Results showed that PAEs were detected in all tested plastic mulch films; the detection rate was 100%. The average content of Σ6PAEs in polyethylene was 13.4 mg·kg-1, including DEHP and DBP. The average content of Σ6PAEs in biodegradable mulch films was 32.5 mg·kg-1 and significantly higher than polyethylene mulch. There were also small amounts of DMP and DEP in biodegradable mulch films apart from DEHP and DBP. When phthalates in the plastic film were all released into the 0~20 cm soil layer without migration or degradation, the Σ6PAEs content in soil ranged from 0.000 4 to 0.001 0 mg·kg-1, much lower than the risk threshold of 10 mg·kg-1 and background value(1.0 mg·kg-1) of phthalates in the soil; therefore, the pollution risk of plastic mulch films in the soil was negligible. Results show that the Σ6PAEs content of plastic mulch films in China is generally in the safe range. The application of plastic mulch film has little contribution to soil phthalates. The content of PAEs was related to the materials used to produce plastic film rather than the color, thickness, or mechanical properties of the films.