Premium
Strategies for detecting ecotoxicological effects of biodegradable polymers in agricultural applications
Author(s) -
Fritz J.,
Sandhofer M.,
Stacher C.,
Braun R.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
macromolecular symposia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.257
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-3900
pISSN - 1022-1360
DOI - 10.1002/masy.200350734
Subject(s) - biodegradation , biochemical engineering , biodegradable polymer , ecotoxicity , polymer , environmental science , materials science , chemistry , engineering , organic chemistry , composite material , toxicity
Biodegradable is the long awaited and highly accepted property for materials (polymers) used in agricultural applications. Methods for determining biodegradability and material disintegration are established and already in use for routine analysis. Methods for analysing ecotoxic effects caused by biodegradable materials are neither established nor in routine use. In the past, biotests have been developed and optimised solely for investigations of single chemicals. Such tests are applicable even if they are not validated for the detection of undesired ecotoxicological effects deriving from biodegradation of polymers in soil. Since the biodegradation process does have an influence on the physical, chemical and biological status of the soil matrix, both biotests and chemical analysis are required in many cases. Theory, background data from method development and some results are presented.