| Title: | Investigating aquatic biodegradation and changes in the properties of pristine and UV-irradiated microplastics from conventional and biodegradable agricultural plastics |
|---|
| Authors: | ID Putar, Ula (Author)
ID Fazlić, Aida (Author)
ID Brunnbauer, Lukas (Author)
ID Novak, Janja (Author)
ID Jemec Kokalj, Anita (Author)
ID Imperl, Jernej (Author)
ID Kučerík, Jiří (Author)
ID Procházková, Petra (Author)
ID Federici, Stefania (Author)
ID Hurley, Rachel (Author)
ID Sever Škapin, Andrijana (Author)
ID Modlitbová, Pavlína (Author)
ID Pořízka, Pavel (Author)
ID Kaiser, Jozef (Author)
ID Limbeck, Andreas (Author)
ID Kalčíková, Gabriela (Author) |
|---|
| Files: |  URL - Source URL, visit https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026974912500781X
 PDF - Presentation file, download (6,56 MB)
MD5: ABC8FB5622F2F3C314AA43E301EE8F86
PDF - Supplement, download (4,80 MB)
MD5: 58747AB1F50ACAD5130B2C756B72F22A
This document has even more files. Complete list of files is available
below. |
|---|
| Language: | English |
|---|
| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
|---|
| Organization: |  ZAG - Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute
|
|---|
| Abstract: | There is an increasing tendency to replace conventional agricultural plastic mulching films with biodegradable alternatives. However, while the latter biodegrade well under controlled conditions (e.g. industrial compost), their biodegradation in non-target environments (e.g. aquatic environments) is questioned and poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, microplastics derived from conventional polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable polybutylene adipate terephthalate starch blend (PBAT) mulching films were exposed to UV irradiation and subsequently tested for their ready biodegradability in an aqueous medium where changes in their characteristics were evaluated. The results showed limited biodegradation for pristine and UV-aged PE: no morphological, surface chemical or internal changes were observed. Pristine PBAT showed signs of initial biodegradation, while UV-aged PBAT biodegraded by up to 57%. New functional groups appeared on the PBAT surface after UV irradiation according to FTIR analysis and crystallinity increased after biodegradation. Elemental analysis revealed a range of metals in PE and PBAT microplastics. No changes in metal distribution analysed in microplastic after UV-aging or biodegradation were found, except that less titanium was present in PBAT after biodegradation indicating potential leaching. None of the PBAT microplastics had ecotoxic effects towards the aquatic plant Lemna minor. Pristine and UV-aged PE showed negative effects on roots, but these were not observed after biodegradation. Low biodegradation of pristine PBAT and possible leaching of metals demonstrated here raise questions about the sustainable use of biodegradable alternatives, especially when they enter non-target environments. |
|---|
| Keywords: | microplastics, biodegradable plastics, aging, biodegradation, ecotoxicity, leaching |
|---|
| Publication status: | Published |
|---|
| Publication version: | Version of Record |
|---|
| Publication date: | 08.05.2025 |
|---|
| Publisher: | Elsevier Applied Science Publishers |
|---|
| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
|---|
| Number of pages: | str. 1-10 |
|---|
| Numbering: | Vol. 376, [article no.] 126408 |
|---|
| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-22516  |
|---|
| UDC: | 504.5:678 |
|---|
| ISSN on article: | 0269-7491 |
|---|
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126408 |
|---|
| COBISS.SI-ID: | 236760835 |
|---|
| Copyright: | © 2025 The Authors |
|---|
| Note: | Soavtorji: Aida Fazlić, Lukas Brunnbauer, Janja Novak, Anita Jemec Kokalj, Jernej Imperl, Jiří Kučerík, Petra Procházková, Stefania Federici, Rachel Hurley, Andrijana Sever Škapin, Pavlína Modlitbová, Pavel Pořízka, Jozef Kaiser, Andreas Limbeck, Gabriela Kalčíková;
|
|---|
| Publication date in DiRROS: | 27.05.2025 |
|---|
| Views: | 689 |
|---|
| Downloads: | 450 |
|---|
| Metadata: |    |
|---|
|
:
|
Copy citation |
|---|
| | | | Share: |  |
|---|
Hover the mouse pointer over a document title to show the abstract or click
on the title to get all document metadata. |
