Mobility of soil-biodegradable nanoplastics in unsaturated porous media affected by protein-corona

Summary

Biodegradable plastic mulches used in agriculture can release nanoplastics into soil, and this study shows that a protein corona — a coating of soil proteins — affects how those nanoplastics move through unsaturated soil layers. The finding matters because biodegradable labels do not guarantee that plastic particles stay put; they can still migrate toward groundwater depending on soil chemistry.