Environmental fate and ecotoxicological impacts of bioplastics: Degradation pathways and emerging knowledge gaps

Citation

Tabassum, Noshabah and Lee, It Ee and Safdar, Iqra and Qayyum, Maria and Bashir, Amna and Tahir, Tanzeela and Khan, Hammad (2026) Environmental fate and ecotoxicological impacts of bioplastics: Degradation pathways and emerging knowledge gaps. BioResources, 21 (3). ISSN 19302126

[img] Text
11.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

Download (1MB)

Abstract

Plastic waste is one of the most concerning issues for the environment in the world. Many researchers are seeking sustainable solutions by replacing petroleum-based plastic with bio-based plastic. Bioplastic is synthesized from natural resources, and it can degrade in different ecosystems. Therefore, it could serve as alternative to combat the harmful impacts of conventional plastic. This review explores different bio-based polymers such as polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polybutylene succinate (PBS), starch blends (SB), and cellulose-based bioplastics (CB). These polymers can be used for many industrial applications, including agriculture, automobiles, textiles, packaging, and medical. To give insight into the procedure of bioplastic manufacture, various processes are analyzed in this review, including the solvent casting technique, extrusion techniques, injection molding, and 3D printing. The products of bioplastics such as micro-nano plastic, monomers, and oligomers released after degradation are critically analyzed and the toxicity of bioplastic on different ecosystems has been discussed. A research gap was also identified, as most toxicological studies of bioplastic do not include the LC50/LD50 threshold.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Toxicity, Biodegradable material, Polymer categories, Applications of bioplastics, Environmental impact, Sustainable materials, Green polymers
Subjects: T Technology > TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Divisions: Faculty of Artificial Intelligence & Engineering (FAIE)
Depositing User: Ms Suzilawati Abu Samah
Date Deposited: 05 Jun 2026 05:26
Last Modified: 05 Jun 2026 05:26
URII: http://shdl.mmu.edu.my/id/eprint/16028

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View ItemEdit (login required)