Microplastics and their effects on the degradation of the pesticide atrazine

• Grant number: 24/11107-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Agreement: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Cassiana Carolina Montagner
• Grantee: Mariana Amaral Dias
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/02189-8 - Microplastics and their effects on the degradation of the pesticide atrazine, AP.R

Abstract

Microplastics, plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, have shown notoriety in environmentalstudies due to their ubiquitous presence in the environment and their ability to interact withcompounds of different classes. This interaction occurs mainly in an aquatic environment,where both microplastics and other contaminants are present concomitantly. Thus,microplastics act as vectors of organic and inorganic compounds, changing the dynamics ofdistribution in the environment. So, microplastics can modify the degradation of contaminants,for example, pesticides, affecting their persistence in the environment and, consequently, theirtoxic potential for biota. Studies involving the sorption of compounds on microplastics arecommonly in the literature. However, a more detailed investigation into how interactions occurin these systems and the influence of microplastics on degradation processes is still a gap in thescientific area. In this context, this project aims to evaluate the degradation of atrazine, one ofthe most commercialized pesticides in Brazil and frequently found in environmental matrices,using freshwater microcosm systems containing polyethylene and polyamide microplastics.This project will contribute to the development of the recently initiated Thematic Project,entitled "Fate and impacts of microplastics and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial matrices inagricultural contexts", under the responsibility of Professor Cassiana C. Montagner. Using areference compound, such as atrazine, in studies carried out in microcosm systems allowssimulation of a more accurate and broader condition of the phenomena that occur in the aquaticenvironment. Currently, there is a lack of data regarding the interactions of microplastics withpesticide degradation products. Since some of the degradation products of atrazine may presentmore significant toxicity to biota than the original molecule, it is essential to understand andelucidate the distribution dynamics of these compounds in the aquatic environment in thepresence of microplastics. Microplastics will be used in their virgin and laboratory-degradedforms to carry out this project. Microplastics will be characterized using techniques previouslydescribed in the literature. The formation of target atrazine degradation products will bemonitored through kinetic experiments. Non-target atrazine degradation products may also beidentified throughout the study. (AU)