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Effortless rule: Effects of oversized microplastic management on lettuce growth and the dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes from fertilization to harvest
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Researchers tested whether removing large microplastics from compost-based fertilizer or adding them to clean fertilizer affected lettuce growth and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in soil. Both adding and removing oversized microplastics negatively affected plant growth and altered soil bacterial communities, and neither strategy effectively reduced antibiotic resistance gene levels. The findings suggest that once microplastics enter the composting process, their effects on soil biology are difficult to reverse through simple physical removal.
The complexity of soil microplastic pollution has driven deeper exploration of waste management strategies to evaluate environmental impact. This study introduced oversized microplastics (OMPs, 1-5 mm) during membrane composting to produce organic fertilizers, and conducted a 2 × 2 pot experiment: exogenous OMPs were added when normal fertilizer (no OMPs intervention) was applied, while artificial removal of OMPs was implemented when contaminated fertilizer (with OMPs) was used. The study assessed the effects of these management strategies on lettuce growth, soil environments, and potential biological safety risks related to the spread and expression of high-risk antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in humans. Results showed that both exogenous OMPs addition and removal negatively affected plant height and harvest index, with shifts in the rhizosphere microbial community identified as a key factor rather than soil nutrients. Exogenous OMPs altered rhizosphere and endophytic microbial communities, and plant growth-promoting bacteria were transferred to the surface of OMPs from rhizosphere soil. In contrast, bacteria such as Truepera, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces in compost-derived OMPs supported lettuce growth, and their removal negated these effects. Some endophytic bacteria may promote growth but pose public health risks when transmitted through the food chain. OMPs in composting or planting significantly enhanced the expression of target ARGs in lettuce, particularly bla. However, simulated digestion results indicated that OMPs reduced the expression of six key ARGs, including bla, among the ten critical target ARGs identified in this context. Notably, the removal management strategies raised five of them posing potential risks from lettuce consumption. This study highlights that both introducing and removing OMPs may pose ecological and food safety risks, emphasizing the need for optimized organic waste management strategies to mitigate potential health hazards.
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Multiomics analysis of the effects of manure-borne doxycycline combined with oversized fiber microplastics on pak choi growth and the risk of antibiotic resistance gene transmission
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Researchers studied how oversized fiber microplastics combined with the antibiotic doxycycline from manure affect pak choi growth and soil health. They found that the antibiotic had a more pronounced negative impact than the microplastics, but slender-fiber microplastics amplified the harmful effects on plant growth and altered soil metabolites. The study raises concerns about antibiotic resistance gene transmission through the combined presence of microplastics and antibiotics in agricultural soils.
Effects and mechanisms of polystyrene micro- and nano-plastics on the spread of antibiotic resistance genes from soil to lettuce
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics affect the spread of antibiotic resistance genes from soil into lettuce plants. They found that these plastic particles significantly increased the transfer of resistance genes by damaging root cell membranes and altering the microbial community in the soil around the roots. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in agricultural soils could make it easier for antibiotic-resistant bacteria to reach the food we eat.
The effects of different types of micro/nano-plastics on the spread of antibiotic resistance genes in soil-lettuce systems
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Tiny plastic particles in soil, especially microplastics rather than even smaller nanoplastics, can help antibiotic-resistant genes spread from soil into lettuce roots and leaves, according to new research. This matters because eating produce grown in plastic-contaminated soil could be a hidden pathway for antibiotic resistance to reach our dinner plates, making it harder for antibiotics to treat infections down the line. The type of plastic (like polyethylene, commonly found in bags and packaging) made a notable difference, suggesting not all plastic pollution poses equal risk.
Distribution and major driving elements of antibiotic resistance genes in the soil-vegetable system under microplastic stress
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Researchers investigated how microplastic contamination in agricultural soil affects the distribution and spread of antibiotic resistance genes through the soil-vegetable system. The study found that microplastic treatment promoted the enrichment of antibiotic resistance genes and mobile genetic elements in lettuce tissues, with higher polyethylene concentrations driving the spread of sulfonamide resistance genes from roots to leaves, suggesting microplastics may facilitate antibiotic resistance entering the food chain.
Size-specific effects of polyethylene microplastics (100–10,000 nm) on the soil resistome and pathogens revealed via metagenomics and machine learning
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Researchers incubated polyethylene microplastics of three different sizes in antibiotic-resistant soils and found that smaller particles had the strongest effect on spreading antibiotic resistance genes and increasing pathogen abundance. The microplastics altered soil chemistry, reduced beneficial enzyme activity, and promoted the growth of potentially harmful bacteria while decreasing beneficial species. The findings suggest that microplastic pollution in soils may worsen the spread of antibiotic resistance, with particle size playing a key role.
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