Occurrence and distribution of organophosphorus esters in soils and wheat plants in a plastic waste treatment area in China

This study for the first time reported the occurrence, distribution and concentrations of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in soils caused by plastic waste treatment, as well as their influence on OPE accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Eight OPEs were detected with the total concentrations of 38–1250 ng/g dry weight in the soils from the treatment sites, and tributoxyethyl phosphate and tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate present as the dominant OPEs. There were similar distribution patterns of OPEs and significant correlations between the total OPE concentrations in the soils from the plastic waste treatment sites with those in the nearby farmlands (P < 0.005), indicating that plastic waste treatment caused the OPE contamination of farmland soils. The uptake and translocation of OPEs by wheat were determined, with OPEs of high hydrophobicity more easily taken up from soils and OPEs with low hydrophobicity more liable to be translocated acropetally. - Highlights: • Plastic waste treatment activities caused contamination of OPEs in farmland soils. • The uptake and translocation of OPEs in soils by wheat were evidenced. • OPEs with high hydrophobicity are more easily taken up by wheat from soils. • OPEs with low hydrophobicity are more liable to be acropetally translocated. - Plastic waste treatment caused contamination of organophosphorus esters in farmland soils and accumulation in wheat plants.