Insights into pollution characteristics of phthalate esters in soil-crop systems and associated responses of soil microbial communities: The case study of Pengzhou, China

Plastic products containing phthalate esters (PAEs) are widely used in agroecosystems, posing potential risks to agricultural products. However, comprehensive studies addressing the distribution and migration of PAEs in soil-plant systems and the response of soil microbial communities remain limited. This study employed gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to analyze 18 types of PAEs in agricultural soils and crops located in Pengzhou, Sichuan Province. Concurrently, the response characteristics of soil bacterial communities along PAE concentration gradients were assessed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Total concentration of 18 PAEs in soil and crop samples ranged from 10.7 to 5180 ng/g and 38.9-6240 ng/g, respectively, with the six priority PAEs dominating soils and crops. The migration of PAEs within soils and crops was closely associated with the types of crops and PAEs. High concentrations of PAEs reduced bacterial community diversity and the complexity and stability of bacterial co-occurrence networks. Notably, PAEs exerted a significant environmental selection effect on community assembly processes, enriching degrading bacteria and enhancing cooperative relationships among bacterial taxa. Risk assessments indicated that the hazard quotient of PAEs in all crops remained within acceptable thresholds. However, 22.2 % of crops exhibited low carcinogenic risk. These findings enhanced our understanding of the environmental fate of PAEs and provided critical data for managing PAE contamination effectively. Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.