We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Mutual Effects and Uptake of Organic Contaminants and Nanoplastics by Lettuce in Co-Exposure
Summary
Researchers found that when lettuce was grown with both nanoplastics and common agricultural pollutants, the nanoplastics dramatically increased the amount of the painkiller ibuprofen absorbed into the plant's leaves (by up to 309% in salty conditions). This means nanoplastics in farm soil could act as carriers that boost how much of other harmful chemicals end up in the food we eat. The study highlights how microplastic contamination in agriculture can amplify human exposure to multiple pollutants at once.
Organic contaminants, such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are commonly found in agricultural systems. With the growing use of plastic products, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are increasingly detected in these agricultural systems, necessitating research into their interactions and joint effects to truly understand their impact. Unfortunately, while there has been a long history of research into the uptake of organic pollutants by plants, similar research with MNPs is only beginning, and studies on their mutual effects and plant uptake are extremely rare. In this study, we examined the effects of three agriculturally relevant organic pollutants with distinctive hydrophobicity as measured by log KOW (trimethoprim: 0.91, atrazine: 2.61, and ibuprofen: 3.97) and 500 nm polystyrene nanoplastics on their uptake and accumulation by lettuce at two different salinity levels. Our results showed that nanoplastics increased the shoot concentration of ibuprofen by 77.4 and 309% in nonsaline and saline conditions, respectively. Alternatively, organic co-contaminants slightly lowered the PS NPs uptake in lettuce with a more pronounced decrease in saline water. These results underscore the impactful interactions of hydrophobic organic pollutants and increasing MNPs on a dynamic global environment.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Synergistic Effects of Polystyrene Nanoplastics and Cadmium on the Metabolic Processes and Their Accumulation in Hydroponically Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
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.
Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability
Researchers grew lettuce in contaminated soil mixed with different types of microplastics, including fibers, glitter, and fragments from bags and bottles. They found that microplastics altered how heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and copper moved through the soil and into the plants, sometimes increasing uptake of toxic metals in roots while decreasing others in leaves. The results raise concerns about food safety in agricultural areas where both microplastic and heavy metal contamination overlap.
Micro-nanoscale polystyrene co-exposure impacts the uptake and translocation of arsenic and boscalid by lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Researchers found that nanoscale polystyrene particles dramatically increase arsenic translocation from roots to edible shoots of lettuce — up to threefold — while also entering root cells and migrating to leaves, demonstrating that microplastic co-exposure can substantially amplify the accumulation of other environmental contaminants in food crops.
Effects of naturally aged microplastics on arsenic and cadmium accumulation in lettuce: Insights into rhizosphere microecology
Researchers studied how naturally aged microplastics in soil affect the uptake of arsenic and cadmium by lettuce. At low concentrations, microplastics actually reduced heavy metal absorption and helped plant growth, but at higher concentrations they increased the amount of toxic metals taken up by the lettuce. This means microplastic-contaminated farmland could lead to higher levels of heavy metals in salad greens and other vegetables that people eat.
Effects of polyethylene microplastic on the phytotoxicity of di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. ramosa Hort)
Researchers investigated how polyethylene microplastics interact with the chemical pollutant di-n-butyl phthalate in lettuce and found that microplastics altered the plant's response to the toxin. The combination reduced photosynthesis, lowered chlorophyll content, and disrupted the plant's antioxidant defenses. The study highlights that microplastics in soil can change how plants respond to other contaminants, potentially compounding environmental harm.