Physicochemical Changes and Biological Interactions in Synthetic and Biodegradable Plastic Films Exposed to a Coastal Environment

ABSTRACT In the present study, the physicochemical changes and colonization in biodegradable and synthetic plastic films, composed of a poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT), polylactic acid (PLA), and starch blend, and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), were evaluated after being exposed to coastal environmental conditions. The films were exposed to a rocky intertidal zone for a period of 45 days. The results indicated that the biodegradable plastic is more chemically stable in terms of changes to the functional groups. Furthermore, physical changes were observed on the surface of both LDPE and biodegradable films due to exposure to environmental conditions. The presence of five classes of marine macroinvertebrates, Polychaeta, Malacostraca, Gastropoda, Bivalvia, and Polyplacophora, was observed on the films, primarily after 30 and 45 days of exposure. The abundance of organisms was apparently time‐dependent for both types of films. These findings contribute to the understanding of the fate of plastic materials released into the marine environment, with a particular focus on alternative or biodegradable materials.