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In vivo monitoring of the impact of microplastic particle size on the absorption and transport of Pyrethroids in Malabar spinach
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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.
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Temporal and SizeDependent Uptake of Micro- and NanoPlastics in an Edible Plant
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Scientists grew basil plants in water containing tiny plastic particles (micro- and nanoplastics) to see if the plants would absorb them, and they did, with plastics building up in the roots and, in smaller amounts, moving up into the leaves people might eat. The smallest plastic particles were absorbed and moved through the plant most easily, and the plastics also appeared to carry along other chemicals from the water, hinting that produce grown in plastic-contaminated water or soil could be a route for these particles and hitchhiking chemicals to enter our food.
Aged polyethylene microplastics modulate herbicide and antibiotic bioavailability and plant responses: A case study with glyphosate and tetracycline
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles commonly found in farm soil can stick to plant roots and change how plants absorb harmful chemicals like pesticides and antibiotics. The plastic pieces made plants more stressed and damaged, reducing important nutrients like chlorophyll by 30%. This matters because it could affect the safety and quality of the food we eat, since these plastic particles are becoming more common in agricultural areas where our crops are grown.
Micro/Nanoplastics in Agriculture: Uptake, Translocation and Bioaccumulation in Plants and Their Ecological Implications
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Tiny plastic particles from pollution are building up in farm soils and getting absorbed by plants through their roots, then traveling up into the leaves, fruits, and other parts we eat. This review of existing research shows these plastics can interfere with how plants grow and take up nutrients, and their presence in edible crops raises real concerns about how much plastic might be ending up on our dinner plates. Scientists still need better, standardized tools to detect these particles and develop ways to keep them out of our food supply.
Microplastics: Pesticide sorption and efficiency
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Tiny plastic particles in soil and water don't just sit there—they act like sponges that grab onto pesticides and antibiotics, changing how far these chemicals travel and how long they stick around in our environment. This matters because plastic pollution could be quietly making pesticide and antibiotic contamination worse or harder to predict in the food and water we rely on. The findings suggest that safety assessments for these chemicals should start factoring in microplastic pollution, since the plastics themselves may be changing the risks.
Accumulation modes and effects of differentially charged polystyrene nano/microplastics in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica F.)
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Researchers investigated how water spinach plants absorb nano and microplastics of different sizes and electrical charges. They found that smaller, positively charged particles were absorbed more readily by roots and could travel to the leaves, while larger particles tended to stay on root surfaces. This matters because leafy vegetables like water spinach could be delivering nanoplastics directly to people who eat them.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.