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In vivo monitoring of the impact of microplastic particle size on the absorption and transport of Pyrethroids in Malabar spinach
Summary
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in irrigation water can act like tiny taxis, helping common pesticides called pyrethroids get absorbed into vegetables like Malabar spinach — and the smallest plastic particles were the most effective at carrying pesticides deeper into the plant. Even more concerning, these plastic particles helped the pesticides stick around longer, tripling how long they lasted (from about 4 days to over 12 days), which means produce grown in plastic-polluted water could carry more pesticide residue by the time it reaches your plate.
Microplastics' (MPs) role as pesticide carriers in vegetables remains unclear, particularly regarding size-dependent transport mechanisms. Herein, the fate of eight pyrethroids (PYs) in Malabar spinach was differentially affected by polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs), as revealed using a novel hollow covalent organic framework-based solid-phase microextraction (HCOF-SPME) technology. This method enabled precise in vivo tracking of pesticide fate while minimizing vegetable sacrifice. Experimental results revealed that PS-MPs enhanced PYs accumulation in roots via adsorption, with smaller MPs (100 nm) exhibiting 1.71-2.52 times higher (500 nm and 1000 nm) vascular transport efficiency to stems compared to larger counterparts, driven by hydrophobic interactions. Notably, PS-MPs co-exposure prolonged PYs persistence, extending maximum half-lives from 4.02 to 12.4 days via carrier-mediated stabilization, thereby increasing residue retention risks during storage and distribution. The developed HCOF-SPME methodology provides a robust analytical platform for investigating multiphase contaminant behavior in aquatic ecosystems, offering actionable insights for food safety assessment and risk management of vegetables in MP-polluted irrigation systems.