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Phytoremediation of emergent plants towards microplastics indoor: adsorption and physiological stress responses
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Scientists found that a reed-like wetland plant called Arundo donax is especially good at trapping microplastics in its roots, thanks to its dense, fibrous root structure, and can handle moderate microplastic exposure without much damage. This suggests we could plant it in water treatment systems or contaminated waterways to help filter out microplastics before they spread further into rivers, lakes, and eventually our drinking water and food supply—offering a low-cost, natural cleanup tool rather than a direct treatment for human exposure.
Wetland plants serve as natural barriers against microplastic (MP) pollution, yet the specific retention pathways and physiological tolerance mechanisms remain underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the phytoremediation potential of nine emergent aquatic plants and identify optimal candidates for MP removal. Co-culture experiments were conducted using varying MP polymer types (PE, PP, PS) and concentrations. Adsorption behaviors and plant physiological responses were systematically analyzed across the nine emergent plant species. The results showed that emergent plant roots can effectively accumulate MPs. The average weak and strong adsorption capacities were 9.8 ± 4.5 and 6.3 ± 2.3 mg/g, respectively, with Arundo donax L. exhibiting the highest retention. This high retention was primarily attributed to the plant's dense root cellulose network, which might facilitate physical entanglement and chemical bonding. Total adsorption ability was polymer-dependent (PE PP PS), with strong adsorption reaching 242 ± 36.4 particles/g root dry weight under 5 mg/L PE exposure. Furthermore, A. donax L. demonstrated significant physiological tolerance at subthreshold concentrations ( $$\le$$ 5 mg/L) by activating antioxidant enzymes to neutralize reactive oxygen species, although higher concentrations triggered oxidative damage. This study elucidates the critical role of root architecture and cellulose content in MP interception, proposing A. donax L. as a pioneer species for the safe phytoremediation of MP-contaminated aquatic environments.
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