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Effect of cadmium and polystyrene nanoplastics on the growth, antioxidant content, ionome, and metabolism of dandelion seedlings
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This study examined how polystyrene nanoplastics interact with cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, and found that the combination worsened the toxic effects on dandelion seedlings beyond what either pollutant caused alone. The findings highlight that nanoplastics can change how heavy metals behave in the environment, potentially increasing the amount of toxic metals that enter the food chain through contaminated plants.
Cadmium is the most prevalent heavy metal pollutant in the environment and can be readily combined with micro/nanoplastics (M/NPs) to change their bioavailability. In the present study, we comprehensively investigated the effect of polystyrene (PS) NPs on dandelion plants grown under Cd stress. Cd exposure significantly inhibited the growth of dandelion seedlings, resulting in a decrease in seedling elongation from 26.47% to 28.83%, a reduction in biomass from 29.76% to 54.14%, and an exacerbation of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. The interaction between PS NPs and Cd resulted in the formation of larger aggregates, with the Cd bioavailability reduced by 12.56%. PS NPs affect ion absorption by regulating reactive oxygen production and increasing superoxide dismutase activity, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of Cd. PSCd aggregates induced significant changes in the metabolic profiles of dandelions, affecting various carbohydrates related to alcohols, organic acids, sugar metabolism, and bioactive components related to flavonoids and phenolic acids. Furthermore, based on a structural equation model, exposure to PSCd activated oxidative stress and nutrient absorption, thereby affecting plant growth and Cd accumulation. Overall, our study provides valuable insights into the effects of PS NPs on Cd bioavailability, accumulation, and plant growth, which are crucial for understanding the food safety of medicinal plants in a coexistence environment.
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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.
Single and combined effects of polystyrene nanoplastics and Cd on submerged plants Ceratophyllum demersum L.
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Researchers studied the combined effects of nanoplastics and cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, on the aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum. They found that nanoplastics worsened cadmium's harmful effects on plant growth, photosynthesis, and cellular health, reducing growth rates by over 35%. The study suggests that when nanoplastics and heavy metals co-occur in water, their combined impact on aquatic plants may be more severe than either pollutant alone.
Synergistic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Cadmium on the Metabolic Processes and Their Accumulation in Hydroponically Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
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When lettuce was grown with both nanoplastics and the toxic metal cadmium, the plants absorbed 61-67% more of both contaminants compared to exposure to either one alone. The combined pollution triggered a stronger stress response in the plants and changed how they grew. This is concerning for human health because it means nanoplastics in agricultural soil could significantly increase the amount of toxic heavy metals that end up in salad greens and other food crops.
Revealing the metabolomics and biometrics underlying phytotoxicity mechanisms for polystyrene nanoplastics and dibutyl phthalate in dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
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Researchers studied how polystyrene nanoplastics and a common plasticizer called dibutyl phthalate affect dandelion plants, both individually and in combination. They found that combined exposure significantly impaired plant growth, triggered oxidative stress, and disrupted key metabolic pathways more severely than either pollutant alone. The study suggests that the co-occurrence of nanoplastics and plastic additives in soil may pose compounding risks to plant health.
Potential synergistic effect of polystyrene nanoplastics on cadmium toxicity to Sedum alfredii Hance
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**TLDR:** Scientists found that tiny plastic particles (nanoplastics) make the toxic metal cadmium even more dangerous when both pollutants are present in soil together. Plants exposed to both nanoplastics and cadmium absorbed much more of the poisonous cadmium than plants exposed to cadmium alone. This matters because these pollutants are increasingly common in our environment, and if plants take up more toxins, they could end up in our food supply.
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