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Identification and detection of label-free polystyrene microplastics in maize seedlings by Raman spectroscopy
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Researchers developed a label-free method to detect and identify polystyrene microplastics in maize seedling tissues using spectroscopic techniques, confirming that plant roots can take up plastic particles from contaminated soil. The approach enables tracking microplastic uptake pathways in crops without chemical labeling.
Microplastics are a new type of pollutants that have attracted attention recently. However, there is limited research on the uptake of environmental microplastics by plants. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and Raman mapping were employed to identify and detect label-free micron-sized polystyrene (PS) microplastics accumulated in the roots and stems of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings. The results demonstrated that the Raman spectra of PS microplastics were predominantly concentrated in the xylem and ducts of seedlings, confirming the transfer behavior of microplastics in the plants. The Raman spectra of PS microplastics in seedlings exhibited distinctive peaks at 621, 1002, 1030, and 1604 cm, and the matching scores of these spectra with the standard PS Raman spectrum ranged from 40.61 % to 86.93 %. Additionally, the Raman mapping facilitated the precise identification and visualization of microplastics within the roots and stems of seedlings. The smallest size of the detected PS microplastics was ∼2 μm. This study provides new insights into the use of Raman spectroscopy for the detection of microplastics in plants.
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Localisation and identification of polystyrene particles in tissue sections using Raman spectroscopic imaging
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Researchers developed a Raman spectroscopic imaging method to localize and identify polystyrene microplastic particles directly within tissue sections, enabling in-situ detection without fluorescent labeling and making environmental sample analysis feasible.
Quantification and Imaging of Polystyrene Micro- and Nanoplastics in Cress Stems (Lepidium sativum) via Raman Spectroscopy
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Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (from polystyrene, a common plastic) can be absorbed by cress plants through their roots and travel into their stems—and the smaller the plastic particle, the more easily it gets in. In fact, the tiniest particles (nanoplastics) made up over half of the plastic detected in plant tissue, compared to just a fifth for larger particles. This matters because if plastics from contaminated soil can work their way into food crops this easily, they could be entering our diets more than we realized, raising new questions about long-term exposure through everyday food.
Do Microplastics Enter Our Food Chain Via Root Vegetables? A Raman Based Spectroscopic Study on Raphanus sativus
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Raman spectroscopy analysis of radish (Raphanus sativus) plants grown in microplastic-contaminated soil detected plastic microparticles within root tissue, providing evidence that certain root vegetables can take up microplastics from soil into edible parts.
Raman-verified polystyrene microplastics in mung bean roots with FTIR-detected protein conformational changes
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Scientists confirmed that tiny polystyrene plastic particles (a common plastic found in packaging and foam products) can get absorbed into the roots of mung bean plants, and this exposure caused subtle changes in the shape of proteins inside the plant. While this study didn't test humans, it matters because mung beans are a food crop, and this research helps build the tools needed to track how microplastics move from soil into the food we eat—an important step for understanding potential long-term risks to our health.
Visual tracking of label-free microplastics in wheat seedlings and their effects on crop growth and physiology
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Researchers used advanced microscopy to visually track label-free polystyrene microplastics as they moved through wheat seedlings from roots to shoots via the plant's water-transport system. At lower concentrations, the microplastics actually increased water uptake in roots, but at higher concentrations they significantly reduced chlorophyll and carotenoid levels. The study provides direct visual evidence that crop plants can absorb and transport microplastics, with potential consequences for plant health and food safety.
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