We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Decreased Sulfamethoxazole Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) due to Transpiration Inhibition by Polypropylene Microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers discovered that polypropylene microplastics in hydroponic growing systems actually reduced the uptake of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole by lettuce plants. The microplastics decreased transpiration rates in the lettuce, which limited the movement of the antibiotic from water into plant tissues. The study suggests that microplastics in agricultural settings can alter how crops absorb other contaminants, with complex implications for food safety.
Microplastics and antibiotics are emerging contaminants in agricultural soil that can have negative effects on crops. However, limited research has been conducted on the effects of the polypropylene (PP) microplastic and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) co-exposure on crops, specifically regarding the impact of PP microplastics on SMX uptake and transport in crops. In this study, hydroponic experiments were carried out using lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), PP microplastics (1.0 g L-1), and SMX (0.5 mg L-1 or 2.5 mg L-1) to investigate the individual and co-exposure effects of PP microplastics and SMX on Lettuce growth, explore the uptake and translocation of SMX in lettuce and elucidate the underlying mechanism of PP microplastic impact on SMX uptake. Results demonstrated that co-exposure to 1.0 g L-1 of PP microplastics and 0.5 mg L-1 of SMX resulted in an enhanced toxic effect. However, no intensified toxic effect on the lettuce was observed when 1.0 g L-1 PP microplastics were added in the presence of 2.5 mg L-1 SMX, indicating that the SMX dominated the toxic effect on lettuce at high concentrations. Additionally, the study found that the water absorption process controlled by the aquaporin and transpiration contributed to the uptake and translocation of SMX in lettuce. When exposed to PP microplastics, no impact was observed on the aquaporin contents of the lettuce while the transpiration rate was significantly decreased by 31.6 % - 44.2 % resulting from microplastics adhered to the root surface. Therefore, in the presence of 2.5 mg L-1 SMX, the SMX uptake in the lettuce root was inhibited by 35.9 % (P < 0.05) when exposed to 1.0 g L-1 PP microplastic. This work deepens our understanding of the behaviour of microplastics and antibiotics in the terrestrial environment.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers grew lettuce in contaminated soil mixed with different types of microplastics, including fibers, glitter, and fragments from bags and bottles. They found that microplastics altered how heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and copper moved through the soil and into the plants, sometimes increasing uptake of toxic metals in roots while decreasing others in leaves. The results raise concerns about food safety in agricultural areas where both microplastic and heavy metal contamination overlap.
Foliar exposure to microplastics disrupts lettuce metabolism and negatively interferes with symbiotic microbial communities
AI summary Read the abstract
When microplastics were sprayed onto lettuce leaves to simulate airborne contamination, the plants showed reduced chlorophyll and photosynthesis rates of up to 81%, even though they appeared to grow normally. The microplastics also disrupted beneficial bacteria on the leaves and in the soil around the roots, including bacteria that help plants grow. This suggests that airborne microplastics landing on crops could quietly reduce their health and productivity while also harming the soil ecosystem.
Uptake, Distribution, and Impact of Micro- and Nano-Plastics in Horticultural Systems Using Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) as a Model Crop
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how micro- and nanoplastics are taken up and distributed in lettuce grown in horticultural systems, finding that nanopolystyrene exposures significantly inhibited leaf and root development in a concentration-dependent manner. They optimized extraction methods for quantifying microplastics in soil and developed a synthesis procedure for nanoplastic test particles. The study demonstrates that plastic fragments from horticultural materials can accumulate in soil and affect crop growth, raising concerns about food safety.
Do Microplastics in Soil Influence the Bioavailability of Sulfamethoxazole to Plants?
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated how three types of microplastics affect the availability and toxicity of the antibiotic sulfamethoxazole in soil using sorghum plants. They found that low concentrations of the antibiotic actually stimulated plant growth, while higher concentrations inhibited it, and the presence of microplastics generally reduced the antibiotic's toxicity. The study highlights that microplastics in agricultural soils can alter how pharmaceutical contaminants behave, with polystyrene having the strongest effect on drug availability.
Toxicity and fate of cadmium in hydroponically cultivated lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) influenced by microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that PVC microplastics changed how lettuce plants absorb the toxic heavy metal cadmium when both were present in the growing water. The microplastics initially absorbed cadmium from the water but then altered the plant's uptake patterns, affecting where the metal accumulated in roots versus leaves. This matters because microplastics in agricultural water could change how toxic metals end up in the edible parts of vegetables people eat.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.