Members of the PAPILLONS consortium participated in the EGU General Assembly 2025 with a presentation titled “Microplastic alteration in agricultural soils across Europe: Comparative study of MPs inside and outside soil aggregates over two years” (EGU25-16101). This study examined how microplastics (MPs) from agricultural mulch films degrade over two years in European soils, comparing particles inside versus outside soil aggregates across sites in Finland, Spain, and Germany. Using advanced imaging and chemical analyses, researchers found that MPs outside aggregates experienced more pronounced ageing—such as surface cracking, increased oxygen content, pore formation, and microbial colonization—while those embedded within soil aggregates showed less degradation. The protective effect of soil aggregates suggests they slow MP breakdown, contributing to plastic accumulation in soils, with variations also influenced by local soil conditions.
