Effects of film mulching on the distribution of phthalate esters in wheat grains from dryland

The application of plastic film in field crop production elevated the phthalate esters (PAEs) accumulation in wheat grains, which poses potential risks to human health. However, the variation of grain PAEs contents in different dryland areas is not clear, and the distribution of PAEs in different tissues of grains has not been studied yet. In the present study, field experiments in five sites (three provinces) with two treatments (soil with and without film mulching) were carried out to study the concentration and distribution of PAEs in grains and the effects of environmental factors on them. Results showed that the total PAE concentration (∑PAEs) in wheat grains ranged from 445 to 764 μg/kg, mainly in the forms of di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). Compared with control, total PAE concentrations in soils and wheat grains were significantly higher in treatments with film mulching. The effects of film on the proportion of PAEs in the flour and bran varied with experiment sites. Grain PAEs in the control groups presented significantly negative correlation with annual temperature, while there was a positive correlation between soil PAEs and bran PAEs in the film treatment. Results in this study are of great significance to comprehensively evaluate the effect of film mulching on grain safety in dryland wheat production.