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Interactive effects of microplastic glitter and drought on savoy cabbage
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Scientists tested how tiny plastic bits called microplastics, including "biodegradable" glitter marketed as eco-friendly, affect savoy cabbage plants, especially when combined with drought conditions. Surprisingly, the biodegradable plastic glitter caused the most harm, stunting root and shoot growth more than conventional plastic did, likely by interfering with water and nutrient uptake. This matters because it suggests that "eco-friendly" plastics aren't automatically safer for crops we eat, and more research is needed before we assume biodegradable plastics are a worry-free solution.
ABSTRACT Microplastics (MPs) are widespread pollutants, raising increasing environmental concerns. Nowadays, bio-based and biodegradable plastics are commonly used as alternatives to conventional plastics. Yet, their ecological impacts and potential interactive effects with other global change factors, such as drought, on organisms are largely unknown. We investigated interactive effects of soil amendment with different MP glitter types [conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET), bio-based polylactic acid (PLA), and biodegradable modified regenerated cellulose (RC)] and drought on the common crop savoy cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var. sabauda ) in a full-factorial design. We measured photosynthetic parameters, transpiration, shoot and root biomass, and leaf amino acid profiles. MP had no impact on photosynthetic parameters, but influenced shoot and root biomass as well as their ratio, also in interaction with drought. Especially RC glitter led to a pronounced reduction of shoot and root biomass. MP had no effects on total amino acid concentrations, but glitter amendment impacted the concentrations of four amino acids which may indicate stress responses. Drought led to enhanced total amino acid and especially proline concentrations, with interactive effects on six amino acids. We assume that the negative effects of MP amendment on biomass may be due to reduced water and nutrient uptake or to additives leaching from MPs; slower degradation of MPs under drought may lessen the acute toxicity of the additives. The pronounced growth retardation under RC glitter amendment highlights the potential ecological risk of biodegradable plastic. Toxicity may decrease over time, but the long-term impacts and degradation dynamics of MPs warrant further investigation.
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