date:Nov 14, 2023
lastic mulch, employed to warm the soil and inhibit weed growth. The study found that these biodegradable plastic mulches persist in soils beyond the industry-prescribed two-year degradation period, a direct violation of the EN 17033 standard.
Dr. Esperanza Huerta Lwanga, the studys lead researcher, emphasizes the findings gravity: The concentrations of microplastics in agricultural soils and ditch sediments are high and vary according to the sampling place. This is worrying and shows the need