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Effect of cadmium on polystyrene transport in parsley roots planted in a split-root system and assessment of the combined toxic effects
Summary
Researchers used a split-root system to study how cadmium affects the movement of polystyrene micro and nanoplastics in parsley plants. They found that plastic nanoparticles traveled through the plant's internal transport system from contaminated roots to clean roots, but cadmium reduced this movement by changing the plastics' surface charge. The study shows that in contaminated soil, heavy metals and microplastics interact in complex ways that affect how much plastic ends up in edible crops.
Micro and nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) coupled with heavy metals are prevalent in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Their ecological toxicity and combined adverse effects have obtained significant concern. Past studies primarily focused on how MPs/NPs influence the behavior of heavy metals. Yet, the possible effects of heavy metals on MP/NP transport and toxicity within co-contaminated systems are still not well-understood. In this study, we conducted split-root experiments to explore the transport and toxicity of polystyrene (PS) particles of varying sizes in parsley seedlings, both with and without the addition of cadmium (Cd). Both the PS-NPs (100 nm) and PS-MPs (300 nm) traveled from the PS-spiked roots (Roots-1) to the non-PS-spiked roots (Roots-2), with or without Cd, possibly because of phloem transport. Furthermore, the presence of Cd reduced the accumulation and movement of PS-NP/MP in the roots, likely due to the increased positive charge (Cd) on the PS surface. PS-NPs/MPs in both Roots-1 and Roots-2 were observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). When Cd was added to either Roots-1 (PS + Cd|H) or Roots-2 (PS|Cd), there was a minor reduction in the chlorophyll a and carotenoids content in leaves with PS|H. The adverse impacts of MPs|H on both indicators were influenced by the MP concentration. However, chlorophyll b significantly increased in the PS|H, PS + Cd|H, and PS|Cd treatments. Consequently, the chlorophyll a/b ratio declined, indicating inhibition of photosynthesis. The dehydrogenase content showed a minor change in Roots-1 and Roots-2 without Cd stress, whereas it significantly decreased on the Cd-spiked side and subsequently inhibited root growth. In contrast, the marked rise in glutathione (GSH) levels within Cd-spiked roots suggested, based on Gaussian analysis, that GSH and Cd chelation were instrumental in mitigating Cd toxicity. When Cd was introduced to both Roots-1 and Roots-2 simultaneously (PS + Cd|Cd), the aforementioned index showed a notable decline.
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