Quantification of pesticide residues on plastic mulching films in typical farmlands of the North China

Abstract

• Pesticide residuals on mulching film of Shandong, Tianjin and Hebei.

• Detected 29 pesticides in soil and 30 in mulching film.

• Pesticides on plastic films: 86.4‒22213.2 ng/g and in soil: 9.3‒535.3 ng/g.

• Pesticides on plastic films 20 times higher than in soil.

Plastic debris as new pollutants attracts much attention in the recent years. The plastic mulching films is one of the most important plastic debirs source in the environment. The aim of this work was to investigate the current status of pesticide residues on the plastic mulching films. Based on the QuEChERS method, multi-residue methods for detection of pesticide residues with gas chromatography tandem mass spectrum (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrum (HPLC-MS) were developed for the analysis of the pesticides residues in plastic film and soil samples from Tianjin, Hebei and Shandong. The total concentrations of pesticide residues were in the range of 86.4‒22213.2 ng/g in plastic film debris, which was about 20 times higher than that in soil (9.3‒535.3 ng/g). Residual level of pesticides varied greatly in different samples. The historical usage and recent application of pesticides were the main sources for pesticide residues on plastic films and soil. In short, plastic mulching films could act as a sink for pesticides in farmland and the ubiquitous pesticide residues on plastic films should draw more attention.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Pesticides / Plastic mulching film / Soil / QuEChERS / Farmland

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