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Comparison of the toxic effects of polystyrene and sulfonated polystyrene on wheat under cadmium stress
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Researchers compared how regular polystyrene and chemically modified sulfonated polystyrene microplastics affect wheat plants exposed to cadmium contamination. Regular polystyrene actually helped protect wheat from cadmium damage, while the sulfonated version made things worse by increasing oxidative stress and disrupting key metabolic pathways. This study shows that different types of microplastics can have very different effects on crop health, and chemically modified plastics may pose greater risks to agriculture and food safety.
With advances in plastic resource utilization technologies, polystyrene (PS) and sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) microplastics continue to be produced and retained in environmental media, potentially posing greater environmental risks. These plastics, due to their different physicochemical properties, may have different environmental impacts when compounded with other pollutants. The objective of this study was to investigate the combined toxic effects of PS and SPS on wheat using cadmium (Cd) as a background contaminant. The results demonstrated that Cd significantly impeded the normal growth of wheat by disrupting root development. Both PS and SPS exhibited hormesis at low concentrations and promoted wheat growth. Under combined toxicity, PS reduced oxidative stress and promoted the uptake of essential metal elements in wheat. Additionally, KEGG pathway analysis revealed that PS facilitated the repair of Cd-induced blockage of the TCA cycle and glutathione metabolism. However, high concentrations of SPS in combined toxicity not only enhanced oxidative stress and interfered with the uptake of essential metal elements, but also exacerbated the blocked TCA cycle and interfered with pyrimidine metabolism. These differences are related to the different stability (Zeta potential, Hydrodynamic particle size) of the two microplastics in the aquatic environment and their ability to carry heavy metal ions, especially Cd. The results of this study provide important insights into understanding the effects of microplastics on crops in the context of Cd contamination and their environmental and food safety implications.
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Do polystyrene nanoplastics affect the toxicity of cadmium to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)?
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Researchers investigated whether polystyrene nanoplastics affect the toxicity of cadmium to wheat plants. The study found that nanoplastics could alter how cadmium interacts with wheat, potentially modifying the uptake and toxic effects of the heavy metal, suggesting that the co-occurrence of nanoplastics and heavy metals in agricultural soils may create complex interactions affecting crop health.
Effects of polystyrene microplastic on uptake and toxicity of copper and cadmium in hydroponic wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.)
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This study investigated how polystyrene microplastics interact with the heavy metals copper and cadmium in hydroponic wheat seedlings. Researchers found that while the microplastics alone did not significantly affect wheat growth, they adsorbed heavy metals and actually reduced the amount of copper and cadmium the plants absorbed. The findings suggest that in some cases microplastics may lessen heavy metal toxicity in plants by binding these metals and making them less available for uptake.
Polystyrene nanoplastics distinctly impact cadmium uptake and toxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana
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In a study using the model plant Arabidopsis, polystyrene nanoplastics increased the uptake and accumulation of the toxic heavy metal cadmium in plant roots. The combined stress of nanoplastics and cadmium caused worse oxidative damage and growth problems than either pollutant alone. This is concerning because it means microplastics in agricultural soil could help toxic metals get into crops more easily, potentially increasing human exposure through food.
Effects of Co-Contamination of Microplastics and Cd on Plant Growth and Cd Accumulation
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Researchers investigated how two types of microplastics, high-density polyethylene and polystyrene, at various concentrations affect cadmium uptake and toxicity in maize plants grown in agricultural soil. The study found that while polyethylene alone had no significant effect, polystyrene at higher doses altered cadmium accumulation patterns, suggesting that different plastic types may interact differently with heavy metals in soil.
Mechanistic Insights into the Effects of Aged Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Toxicity of Cadmium to Triticum Aestivum
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This study examined how aged polystyrene nanoplastics interact with the heavy metal cadmium to affect wheat plants. Researchers found that the aging process increases the nanoplastics' ability to absorb cadmium, which can alter how the metal is taken up by crops, raising questions about combined contaminant exposure through the food supply.
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