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Uptake and translocation of nanoplastics in mono and dicot vegetables
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Scientists exposed four different vegetable crops to fluorescent nanoplastics and tracked where the particles ended up in the plants. Nanoplastics were absorbed through the roots and transported to the stems and leaves of all plants tested, including tomatoes, radishes, and leafy greens. This confirms that food crops can take up nanoplastics from contaminated soil and deliver them to the parts of the plant that people eat.
The excessive production and use of plastics increase the release of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) into the environment. In recent years, research has focused on the occurrence of MNPs in air, soil and water. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of knowledge regarding MNPs in plants. To determine the load, translocation of MNPs and their effects on metabolism, pak choi, tomato, radish and asparagus have been exposed with fluorescent-labelled poly(methyl methacrylate) or polystyrene (PS) MNPs. The entry of nanoparticles (NPs) of various sizes (100-500 nm) and surface modifications (unmodified, COOH or NH2) into plants has been demonstrated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The translocalization from root to shoot and the accumulation of NP in the intercellular spaces were regardless of the surface modification. In addition, metabolomics was used to evaluate metabolic changes induced by MNPs in pak choi. Changes in phenolic compounds, phytohormone derivatives and other classes of compounds known to be triggered by various environmental stresses have been identified. The present study demonstrates the uptake and translocalization of MNPs in edible parts of vegetables and may pose a hazard for humans.
More Papers Like This
Uptake and translocation of nanoplastics in mono and dicot vegetables
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated the uptake and translocation of nanoplastics in four vegetable species -- pak choi, tomato, radish, and asparagus -- exposing plants to fluorescently labeled poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene particles of 100 to 500 nm with different surface modifications, and using fluorescence microscopy to confirm nanoparticle entry and movement regardless of size or surface chemistry.
Determining the accumulation potential of nanoplastics in crops: An investigation of 14C-labelled polystyrene nanoplastic into radishes
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Researchers used a radioactive labeling technique to track nanoplastics as they moved through radish plants, demonstrating for the first time that these particles can accumulate in edible tissues. About 25% of the nanoplastics absorbed by the roots were found in the edible fleshy root, with another 10% reaching the shoots. The findings highlight a potential pathway for human exposure to nanoplastics through everyday vegetables.
Quantitative tracing of uptake and transport of submicrometre plastics in crop plants using lanthanide chelates as a dual-functional tracer
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Researchers developed a new method using europium-tagged nanoplastics to precisely measure how 200-nanometer plastic particles are taken up by wheat and lettuce plants. The nanoplastics accumulated mainly in the roots, with a small but measurable amount transported to the shoots that people eat. This study confirms that food crops can absorb nanoplastics from contaminated soil, providing a direct pathway for these particles to enter the human diet.
Transport Dynamics and Physiological Responses of Polystyrene Nanoplastics in Pakchoi: Implications for Food Safety and Environmental Health
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Researchers tracked fluorescently labeled nanoplastics as they traveled through pakchoi (a leafy green vegetable), entering through the roots, moving up through the plant's water-transport system, and accumulating in the leaves. The nanoplastics caused oxidative damage and disrupted plant hormones, demonstrating a clear pathway by which plastic pollution in soil could enter the human food supply through everyday vegetables.
Micro/Nanoplastics in Agriculture: Uptake, Translocation and Bioaccumulation in Plants and Their Ecological Implications
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Tiny plastic particles from pollution are building up in farm soils and getting absorbed by plants through their roots, then traveling up into the leaves, fruits, and other parts we eat. This review of existing research shows these plastics can interfere with how plants grow and take up nutrients, and their presence in edible crops raises real concerns about how much plastic might be ending up on our dinner plates. Scientists still need better, standardized tools to detect these particles and develop ways to keep them out of our food supply.
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