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Tracing microplastics uptake and translocation in plants using aggregation-induced emission materials
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Scientists used special glow-in-the-dark materials to track how microplastics move through lettuce plants, from roots up to stems and leaves. This matters because it confirms plants can absorb and transport microplastics internally, meaning these tiny plastic particles could end up in the produce we eat, though the researchers note their method can't yet tell whether it's tracking whole plastic particles or just fragments that broke off. This new tracking tool could help future studies better understand exactly how much plastic ends up in our food.
Microplastics (MPs) can be absorbed by plants and subsequently transferred into the food chain, posing ecological and health risks. However, the investigation of MP absorption and translocation in organisms is highly restricted by the difficulties in separating and quantifying MPs in biological samples. This study utilized aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials as sensitive fluorescent probes that show potential as semi‑quantitative tracers for MPs transport in plants. Self-assembly and swelling methods were adopted to incorporate AIE materials (BB-066 and TPE-NH) in MPs (PS, PMMA, PLA). Hydroponic experiments and physiological factor analysis confirmed that BB-066 was non-toxic to lettuce (Lactuca sativa), as no significant difference was observed compared to the control groups (p > 0.05). The stability of the prepared fluorescent MPs was investigated through metal ion release and fluorescence leakage in the supernatant at varying pH levels as well as in the simulated plant internal liquid environment. Fluorescence imaging revealed treatment-associated signals within root, stem and leaf tissues, with a progressive decrease in fluorescence intensity from roots to stems and leaves. The spatial distribution was compatible with upward redistribution through vascular-associated pathways, although the predominantly diffuse fluorescence did not allow intact labelled microspheres to be distinguished unequivocally from dissociated or redistributed fluorophore.
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Multimodal imaging and quantification of lanthanide chelate-labeled micro- and nanoplastics in plants
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Scientists have developed a better way to track how tiny plastic particles move through plants—from roots to leaves—by using special glowing chemical tags that don't get washed out by the plant's natural background glow, unlike older tracking methods. This matters because microplastics in our food supply are a growing concern, and understanding exactly how they get into the crops we eat (like wheat and lettuce) is a key step toward figuring out whether—and how much—they end up on our dinner plates.
Synthetic DNA fragments as ultra-high-resolution multitracers to quantify transport behavior of micro- and nanoplastics in plant systems
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Scientists used a clever DNA-tagging trick to track exactly how tiny plastic particles move into lettuce plants, through water, air, and soil. They found that watering plants with plastic-contaminated water was the biggest source of contamination, and that smaller plastic particles (200 nanometers) traveled more easily into the edible leafy parts than larger ones, especially when plants "sweat" more (higher transpiration). This matters because it helps explain how microplastics end up in the food we eat, and suggests that both irrigation water quality and plant growing conditions could influence how much plastic ends up on our plates.
Uptake and accumulation of microplastics in an edible plant
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Researchers demonstrated for the first time that edible plants can take up and accumulate microplastics from soil. Using fluorescently labeled polystyrene beads, they showed that 0.2-micrometer particles entered lettuce roots through small cracks at lateral root emergence sites, traveled through the vascular system, and accumulated in the leaves. The findings raise concerns about a previously unrecognized pathway for human microplastic exposure through the consumption of vegetables grown in contaminated soil.
Uptake and translocation of nanoplastics in mono and dicot vegetables
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Scientists exposed four different vegetable crops to fluorescent nanoplastics and tracked where the particles ended up in the plants. Nanoplastics were absorbed through the roots and transported to the stems and leaves of all plants tested, including tomatoes, radishes, and leafy greens. This confirms that food crops can take up nanoplastics from contaminated soil and deliver them to the parts of the plant that people eat.
Quantitative tracing of uptake and transport of submicrometre plastics in crop plants using lanthanide chelates as a dual-functional tracer
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Researchers developed a new method using europium-tagged nanoplastics to precisely measure how 200-nanometer plastic particles are taken up by wheat and lettuce plants. The nanoplastics accumulated mainly in the roots, with a small but measurable amount transported to the shoots that people eat. This study confirms that food crops can absorb nanoplastics from contaminated soil, providing a direct pathway for these particles to enter the human diet.
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