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Do nanoplastics impact Pb up-taking by Hordeum vulgare L.?
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This study used the RHIZOtest system to investigate how polystyrene nanoplastics affect lead uptake in barley plants, finding that nanoplastics reduced lead bioaccumulation by adsorbing the metal and reducing its bioavailability to roots. At the highest lead concentrations, the adsorption effect was most pronounced.
Most studies on nanoplastics (NPs) focus on aquatic environments, overlooking their combined bioaccumulation with pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems. This study addresses a part of this gap by investigating how polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) affect the bioaccumulation and translocation of lead (Pb) in Hordeum vulgare L. plants. Using the RHIZOtest device for precise soil contamination control, we quantified PS-NPs (50 nm) in plant shoots via pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS) after plant KOH digestion. Our findings revealed that PS-NPs reduce Pb bioaccumulation and make adsorbed Pb onto PS-NPs less bioavailable to plants. For the highest Pb concentration, the Pb uptake index (PUI) followed the trend: Free Pb > NPs + Pb > Pb primary adsorbed by NPs, showing reduced Pb translocation to shoots in the presence of PS-NPs. Moreover, the presence of Pb decreased the bioavailability of PS-NPs probably in response to PS-NPs aggregation or modified charge. The PS-NPs concentrations in shoots range from 275.2 to 400 μg g, representing 3.9 to 5.75% of the total PS-NPs. This study highlights the intricate interactions between nanoplastics and metals in soil-plant systems and emphasizes the need for further research on their combined effects and potential risks to food safety.
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Polystyrene influence on Pb bioavailability and rhizosphere toxicity: Challenges for ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) in soil phytoremediation
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Researchers examined how polystyrene microplastics of different sizes and surface charges affect lead contamination and phytoremediation by ramie plants in soil. They found that polystyrene increased lead bioavailability by reducing soil pH and weakening lead adsorption, which enhanced lead uptake by the plants but also exacerbated damage to root function. The study suggests that microplastic presence in contaminated soils creates a complex trade-off, potentially improving phytoremediation efficiency while increasing toxicity risks to plant health.
Mechanistic description of lead sorption onto nanoplastics
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Researchers investigated the mechanisms by which nanoplastics in the environment adsorb lead and other metal contaminants. The study found that despite growing recognition of nanoplastic presence in ecosystems, the processes by which these tiny particles carry and transport metals remain poorly understood. The findings contribute to a better understanding of how nanoplastics may serve as vectors for spreading heavy metal contamination through the environment.
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics with different functional groups on the accumulation and toxicity of Pb on dandelion
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Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics with different surface functional groups significantly altered lead accumulation and toxicity in dandelion plants, with amino-modified particles increasing lead uptake while carboxy-modified particles reduced it.
Effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on lead toxicity in dandelion seedlings
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Researchers investigated how different types of functionalized polystyrene nanoplastics affect lead toxicity in dandelion seedlings. The results showed that the surface chemistry of nanoplastics matters: carboxy-modified particles with negative surface charges enhanced lead toxicity, while amino-modified particles with positive charges reduced it, highlighting the complex interactions between nanoplastics and heavy metal contaminants in plants.
Generation of Eroded Nanoplastics from Real World Wastes and Their Capacity for Heavy Metal Adsorption
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Researchers generated nanoplastics from real-world plastic waste including PET, polystyrene, and polypropylene, then tested their ability to absorb heavy metals. Polypropylene nanoplastics showed the highest absorption capacity for most metals tested, while lead was absorbed most rapidly across all plastic types, with over 99% uptake within five minutes. The findings suggest that nanoplastics in the environment may serve as carriers for toxic heavy metals, potentially increasing their bioavailability and environmental risk.
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