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Biodegradable Plastics Do not Form Chemically Persistent Microplastics
Summary
Researchers argue that biodegradable plastics may not actually form persistent microplastics because biodegradation acts primarily on the material's surface, potentially breaking down the plastic before stable fragments can accumulate — suggesting biodegradable alternatives could reduce long-term environmental microplastic loads if standards are properly applied.
Biodegradation of solid plastic materials is a heterogeneous reaction [1]. Only the surface is affected by biodegradation while the inner part should not be readily available for biodegradation. Current standard test methods for biodegradation are based on the...