Organophosphate
esters (OPEs) have been a focus in the field of
environmental science due to their large volume production, wide range
of applications, ubiquitous occurrence, potential bioaccumulation,
and worrisome ecological and health risks. Varied physicochemical
properties among OPE analogues represent an outstanding scientific
challenge in studying the environmental fate of OPEs in recent years.
There is an increasing number of studies focusing on the long-range
transport, trophic transfer, and ecological risks of OPEs. Therefore,
it is necessary to conclude the OPE pollution status on a global scale,
especially in the remote areas with vulnerable and fragile ecosystems.
The present review links together the source, fate, and environmental
behavior of OPEs in remote areas, integrates the occurrence and profile
data, summarizes their bioaccumulation, trophic transfer, and ecological
risks, and finally points out the predominant pollution burden of
OPEs among organic pollutants in remote areas. Given the relatively
high contamination level and bioaccumulation/biomagnification behavior
of OPEs, in combination with the sensitivity of endemic species in
remote areas, more attention should be paid to the potential ecological
risks of OPEs.
Biodegradable polymers are promoted as promising alternatives for conventional non-degradable plastics, but they may also negatively impact soil ecosystems. Here, we estimated the effects of biodegradable (polylactide (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS)) and non-biodegradable (polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS)) microplastics at a concentration of 1% (w/w) on dissolved organic matter (DOM) in two soil types, a black soil (BS) and a yellow soil (YS), by using fluorescence excitationemission matrix spectroscopy and ultrahigh-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). PBS significantly increased the contents of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and the relative intensities of protein-like components. The turnover rates of soil DOM were statistically higher in PBS treatments (0.106 and 0.196, p < 0.001) than those in other microplastic groups. The FT-ICR-MS results indicated that more labile-active DOM molecules were preferentially obtained in biodegradable microplastic treatments, which may be attributed to the polymer degradation. The conventional microplastics showed no significant effects on the optical characteristics but changed the molecular compositions of the soil DOM. More labile DOM molecules were observed in BS samples treated with PE compared to the control, while the conventional microplastics decreased the DOM lability in YS soil. The distinct priming effects of plastic-leached DOM may trigger the DOM changes in different soils. This study provided important information for further understanding the impact of microplastics on soil carbon processes.
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