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Airborne microplastics in leaves and food safety risks
Summary
Researchers provided evidence that airborne microplastics are deposited on and taken up by plant leaves, highlighting an important and underappreciated pathway of terrestrial plastic pollution and raising food safety concerns about the accumulation of airborne MPs on edible vegetation.
Global plastic production has surged. Li et al. provide evidence of an important aspect of terrestrial plastic pollution, highlighting leaf absorption of airborne plastics as a major route into plants. Their work underscores the need for urgent action to reduce plastic emissions and re-evaluate agricultural and food safety frameworks.
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