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Revealing the bioavailability and phytotoxicity of different particle size microplastics on diethyl phthalate (DEP) in rye (Secale cereale L.)
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Researchers studied how microplastics of different sizes interact with a common plasticizer chemical (DEP) in rye plants. Smaller nanoplastics were able to enter and move through the plant, disrupting leaf cells, while the plasticizer chemical increased the plant's uptake of nanoplastics. This suggests that microplastics and the chemicals they carry can work together to contaminate food crops, with smaller particles posing the greatest risk.
Understanding how widely distributed microplastics (MPs) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) interact with crops remains limited, despite their significant implications for human exposure. We used physiology, transcriptomics, adsorption kinetics, and computational chemistry to assess rye's molecular response to two sizes of MPs (200 nm and 5 µm) and DEP, both individually and in combination. Findings systematically highlight potential ecological risks from MPs and DEP, with ecotoxicity ranking as follows: CK (Control Check) < LMPs < SMPs < DEP < LMPs+DEP < SMPs+DEP. Fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy revealed SMP's translocation ability in rye and its potential to disrupt leaf cells. DEP increased the electronegativity on MPs, which enhanced their uptake by rye. DEP adsorption by MPs in hydroponics reduced DEP bioavailability in rye (18.17-46.91 %). Molecular docking studies showed DEP interacted with chlorophyll, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione S-transferases proteins' active sites. Transcriptomic analysis identified significant up-regulation of genes linked to mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, phytohormones, and antioxidant systems in rye exposed to MPs and DEP, correlating with physiological changes. These findings deepen the understanding of how MPs can accumulate and translocate within rye, and their adsorption to DEP raises crop safety issues of greater environmental risk.
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Researchers studied how polystyrene microplastics combined with phthalate plasticizers of different chain lengths affect rye plants through both short-term and long-term experiments. Short-chain phthalates caused the strongest toxicity in hydroponic conditions, while long-chain DEHP combined with microplastics produced the greatest long-term damage, reducing grain weight by 38% and causing microplastic accumulation in seeds.
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Researchers studied the combined toxicity of three phthalate esters with different alkyl chain lengths and polystyrene microplastics on rye plants, finding that MP presence amplified the phytotoxicity of longer-chain phthalates. The results demonstrate that microplastics can act as carriers that enhance the uptake and toxicity of co-occurring chemical contaminants in crops.
Carrier effects of microplastics in a hydroponic system: Amplifying diethyl phthalate toxicity and endophytic dysbiosis in Rye (Secale cereale L.) with implications for aquatic ecosystems
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Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics and diethyl phthalate (a common plasticizer) interact synergistically to cause severe toxicity in hydroponically grown rye, far exceeding the damage from either pollutant alone. The study revealed a bidirectional mechanism where microplastics adsorb the plasticizer while the plasticizer enhances microplastic uptake by roots, leading to photosynthetic collapse and disrupted endophytic microbial communities.
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Researchers investigated how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes affect the bioavailability of the plasticizer di-butyl phthalate and its toxicity to lettuce plants. They found that smaller nanoscale polystyrene particles increased DBP uptake by the plants, while larger particles reduced it by adsorbing the chemical. The study demonstrates that microplastics can act as carriers for harmful chemicals in agricultural soils, with particle size determining whether they amplify or reduce pollutant exposure to crops.
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Researchers studied the effects of polyethylene micro- and nanoplastics on lettuce plants, varying both particle size and concentration. They found that particle size played a pivotal role in influencing plant growth, photosynthetic activity, and metabolic processes, with nanoplastics generally causing more pronounced effects than larger microplastics. The study suggests that the smallest plastic particles pose the greatest risk to crop health by disrupting plant physiology at multiple levels.
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