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Raman-verified polystyrene microplastics in mung bean roots with FTIR-detected protein conformational changes
Summary
Scientists confirmed that tiny polystyrene plastic particles (a common plastic found in packaging and foam products) can get absorbed into the roots of mung bean plants, and this exposure caused subtle changes in the shape of proteins inside the plant. While this study didn't test humans, it matters because mung beans are a food crop, and this research helps build the tools needed to track how microplastics move from soil into the food we eat—an important step for understanding potential long-term risks to our health.
The accumulation of microplastics in agricultural environments and the associated risks of uptake by plant roots have garnered increasing attention. This study used mung bean seedlings as a model system, integrating Raman spectroscopy, microscopic mapping, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Raman mapping was first employed to confirm the retention and localisation of polystyrene (PS) microplastics within root tissues. Subsequently, FTIR analysis was conducted to assess their impact on protein secondary structures. Results revealed that root hotspot spectra were consistent with the PS standard spectra at characteristic peaks (1002 cm⁻¹ and 1604 cm⁻¹).Furthermore, Raman mapping results clearly localised particle-related signals against the tissue background, further supporting the presence and retention of PS microplastics within root tissues. To assess potential molecular responses, FTIR testing was performed on root samples, focusing on peak fitting in the Amide I region (1580–1720 cm⁻¹). Compared to the control group, the PS-treated group showed a 7.95% increase in random coil proportion and a 3.91% decrease in β-turn proportion. Raman mapping enabled fingerprint-based confirmation and localisation of PS microplastics within mung bean root tissue sections. The FTIR Amide I peak shape and peak-fitting results suggest minor protein conformational rearrangement, providing a methodological basis for microplastic identification in plant root tissue sections and spectroscopic readouts of protein secondary-structure responses.