Life Sciences Commons^™

Biodegradable Plastic Degradation Products Alter Germination And Growth Of Aspergillus, Taylor Cofer

WWU Graduate School Collection

Although much work has been focused on micro and nano-plastics in soils, the bioactivity of common plastic additives (plasticizers) and monomers have been overlooked. One source of plastic pollution in agricultural soils is breakdown products from plastic soil covers called mulches. The plastics industry is attempting to make biodegradable plastic mulch (BPM) that have reduced environmental impacts and removal costs compared with those typically associated with conventional plastic mulches. Two common polymers added to BPMs are thermoplastic starch (TPS) and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT). In this study, the effects of components that can leach from TPS and PBAT were investigated to determine …