Monitoring the Environmental Degradation of Biodegradable Mulch Films Using Py-GC-MS and a Multitechnique Analytical Approach
6 affiliations
- 1School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, U.K.
- 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
- 3Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, via G. Moruzzi 13, Pisa 56124, Italy
- 4Institute for Sustainability and Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K.
- 5School of Ocean Science, Bangor University, Menai Bridge LL59 5AB, U.K.
- 6Marine Ecology & Society, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, Plymouth PL1 3DH, U.K.
Abstract
Biodegradable mulch films have been developed for use in agriculture to reduce costs incurred during the retrieval of conventional mulch films and to prevent plastic pollution of soil caused by their incomplete removal. However, there are knowledge gaps on their degradation rate and potential environmental impact of any residuals. This study investigated the degradation of three commercially available mulch films, one made of polyethylene and two labeled as “biodegradable”. These products were exposed to four conditions in the open environment. After 24 months in soil, air, and a combination of air pre-exposure for 3 months followed by soil burial, all samples retained their overall film structure and were still recoverable, although different levels of physical and chemical changes indicated ongoing degradation. In seawater, no residual fragments of the biodegradable mulch films remained after 3 months of exposure. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detected leaching of a plasticizer from one of the biodegradable films in all environments and other degradation features. The outcome of this study highlights the potential for environmental accumulation of mulch films labeled as “biodegradable” and the need for the development of international environmental testing standards and associated labeling to guide users on appropriate use and disposal of mulch films.
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BibTeX
@article{falco2026monitoring,
title = {{Monitoring the Environmental Degradation of Biodegradable Mulch Films Using Py-GC-MS and a Multitechnique Analytical Approach}},
author = {Francesca De Falco and Tommaso Nacci and Fannie Burgevin and Winnie Courtene-Jones and Allicia Fullarton and Rachel L. Coppock and Ilaria Degano and Francesca Modugno and Richard C. Thompson},
journal = {Environmental Science \& Technology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.6c11149},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6c11149},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Monitoring the Environmental Degradation of Biodegradable Mulch Films Using Py-GC-MS and a Multitechnique Analytical Approach
AU - Francesca De Falco
AU - Tommaso Nacci
AU - Fannie Burgevin
AU - Winnie Courtene-Jones
AU - Allicia Fullarton
AU - Rachel L. Coppock
AU - Ilaria Degano
AU - Francesca Modugno
AU - Richard C. Thompson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/21
JO - Environmental Science & Technology
DO - 10.1021/acs.est.6c11149
UR - https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6c11149
AB - Biodegradable mulch films have been developed for use in agriculture to reduce costs incurred during the retrieval of conventional mulch films and to prevent plastic pollution of soil caused by their incomplete removal. However, there are knowledge gaps on their degradation rate and potential environmental impact of any residuals. This study investigated the degradation of three commercially available mulch films, one made of polyethylene and two labeled as “biodegradable”. These products were exposed to four conditions in the open environment. After 24 months in soil, air, and a combination of air pre-exposure for 3 months followed by soil burial, all samples retained their overall film structure and were still recoverable, although different levels of physical and chemical changes indicated ongoing degradation. In seawater, no residual fragments of the biodegradable mulch films remained after 3 months of exposure. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry detected leaching of a plasticizer from one of the biodegradable films in all environments and other degradation features. The outcome of this study highlights the potential for environmental accumulation of mulch films labeled as “biodegradable” and the need for the development of international environmental testing standards and associated labeling to guide users on appropriate use and disposal of mulch films.
SN - 0013-936X
SN - 1520-5851
ER -