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Turning the enemy into an ally: Phytoremediation potential of Solidago canadensis L. for Cd-contaminated soil as influenced by microplastics and biochar
Summary
Scientists tested whether a weedy plant (Canada goldenrod) could help clean up soil contaminated with both cadmium (a toxic heavy metal) and microplastics — two pollutants increasingly found together in farmland. They found that adding biochar (a charcoal-like soil additive made from organic waste) boosted the plant's ability to lock away cadmium while also reducing harmful plant compounds, making this combo a promising, low-cost way to detoxify contaminated soil before it enters the food chain. This matters because cadmium and microplastics can build up in crops and eventually in the people who eat them, so finding pract
). Results revealed complex polymer- and dose-dependent effects on Cd dynamics, where PES enhanced Cd immobilization, while 0.2% PET/PLA paradoxically increased root Cd accumulation by 5.6%-13.8% despite reducing soil Cd extractability. MPs exposure induced comprehensive physiological perturbations in S. canadensis, including biomass allocation, chlorophyll degradation, micronutrient homeostasis, and profound metabolic reprogramming characterized by the upregulation of allelopathic metabolites. BC amendment effectively immobilized Cd, mitigated oxidative stress, and restored nutrient cycling by enhancing enzyme activities. Crucially, BC decreased the relative abundances of key allelochemicals by 65.3% ± 14.2% through energy metabolic restructuring, while maintaining high phytoremediation efficiency. Significant triple interactions (MPs type × MPs dose × BC) underscored context-dependency of remediation outcomes, with biodegradable PLA exhibiting distinct ecological implications. These findings demonstrate that integrating BC amendment with S. canadensis phytoremediation offers a sustainable strategy for managing MPs-Cd co-contaminated soils within the framework of ecological security.