Kinetics of plasticiser release and degradation in soils

Billings, Alex ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8042-5599; Jones, Kevin C.; Pereira, M. Glória ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3740-0019; Spurgeon, David J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3264-8760. 2025 Kinetics of plasticiser release and degradation in soils. Environmental Pollution, 372, 125997. 10, pp. 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125997

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125997

Abstract/Summary

Despite the increasing use of emerging phthalate and non-phthalate plasticisers as replacements for restricted phthalates, few studies have investigated their rates of entry and persistence in soils. We investigated release of the emerging plasticiser diethyl hexyl terephthalate (DEHTP) from polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC; 4 mm diameter; 21% DEHTP w/w) in soils in a 3-month laboratory study. DEHTP was released rapidly, with 6.6–12.1 ng DEHTP released per mg PVC within <2 h, although this was a small proportion of the amount in the pellets (<0.006%). Degradation rates of 8 phthalate plasticisers and 4 non-phthalate emerging plasticisers in the soils were measured in a separate 3-month laboratory study. For 7 of the 12 plasticisers, pseudo-first order half-lives were <30 days, suggesting relatively low persistence. 5 higher molecular weight plasticisers, including the emerging trioctyl trimellitate and DEHTP, were more persistent, with half-lives >100 days. Plasticiser half-lives in soils were significantly positively correlated with logKOW. Degradation was typically slower in acidic heathland (pH 3.8; organic matter 3.7%), than in alkaline grassland (pH 7.3; OM 16%) or sandy loam agricultural (pH 5.3; OM 5%) soils. Rapid release and potential persistence of some emerging plasticisers in soils indicates that presence of these contaminants may increase in the future.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125997
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Environmental Pressures and Responses (2025-)
ISSN:	0269-7491
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	plasticiser, microplastic, degradation, release, leaching, migration
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Agriculture and Soil Science
Date made live:	06 Mar 2025 15:43 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539023

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125997

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Environmental Pressures and Responses (2025-)

ISSN:

0269-7491

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

plasticiser, microplastic, degradation, release, leaching, migration