Biodegradable Plastic Leachates Slow Growth of Marine Microalgae in Lab

A laboratory study from Indonesia challenges the idea that biodegradable plastics are automatically harmless to marine life. Reporting in the journal Ecotoxicology, researchers found that chemical leachates released by biodegradable polypropylene microplastics can significantly suppress the growth of marine microalgae. The team led by Nur Aini Azizah of Brawijaya University tested three species widely used in toxicity work—Chlorella sp., Tetraselmis sp., and Navicula sp.—under a 96-hour exposure window. Using FTIR spectroscopy to confirm the polymer identity, they tracked cell density and chlorophyll-a, indicating that disrupted energy capture can reduce algal productivity. Responses varied by species, with Navicula showing no clear concentration-dependent inhibition.