Weathering of agricultural polyethylene films in cold climate regions: which parameters influence fragmentation?

Summary

Researchers studied the natural weathering of agricultural polyethylene mulch films in cold climate regions to identify which parameters accelerate their fragmentation into microplastics. They found that a combination of environmental factors contributes to the breakdown process, which can also lead to leaching of chemical additives. The findings highlight the importance of understanding how agricultural plastics degrade in different climates to assess their contribution to soil microplastic pollution.