Behaviors of BDE-28 and BDE-47 in two distinct soils (Phaeozem and Acrisol) as affected by the separate addition of root exudate components (i.e., oxalic acid, glycine, and fructose) were investigated by a soil microcosm incubation experiment. The results showed that root exudate components promoted the desorption of BDE-28 (57.6-235.0 %) and BDE-47 (56.9-223.7 %) from the soils due to the enhancement of their water solubilities. The addition of root exudate components increased the n-butanol extractability of BDE-28 and BDE-47 by 20.3-72.5 and 48.6-169.2 %, respectively, which had a positive correlation with the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the soils (p < 0.01), suggesting that the increase of DOC in the soils by root exudate components was the major factor to enhance the extractability. Fructose and oxalic acid promoted the desorption and increased the availability of BDE-28 and BDE-47 in the soils more efficiently than glycine. The addition of different root exudate components resulted in distinct shifts in soil microbial community structure (p < 0.05). Oxalic acid caused the greatest impacts on the soil bacterial communities and increased the degradation rates of BDE-28 and BDE-47 most obviously. The findings of this study clarified the roles of root exudate components in affecting the behaviors of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soils.
Keywords: Availability; BDE-28 and BDE-47; Biodegradation; Desorption; Root exudate component; Soil.