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Pesticide bioaccumulation in radish produced from soil contaminated with microplastics
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Researchers examined how microplastics in soil affect the bioaccumulation of pesticides in radishes, finding that aged microplastics enhanced the uptake of chlorpyrifos into the edible root. The study suggests that the combination of microplastics and pesticide mixtures in agricultural soils may increase food safety risks beyond what would be expected from individual contaminants alone.
The aging of microplastics (MPs) in soils may affect crop bioaccumulation of coexisting contaminants. We examined the bioaccumulation of pesticides (chlorpyrifos (CPF), difenoconazole (DIF) and their mixture) in radish (Raphanus sativus) planted in soils contaminated with MPs (low-density polyethylene or biodegradable MPs). The experiment was conducted with different contamination scenarios taking into account the use of aged MPs and pesticide mixtures. Radish root biomass was negatively affected in the scenarios with aged MPs. CPF bioaccumulation in radishes appears to be enhanced by the presence of MPs, especially aged MPs, and the pesticide mixture. The results show that food safety risks associated with the bioaccumulation of individual pesticides and their mixtures are increased in soils polluted by MPs, particularly MP after aging.
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Effects of naturally aged microplastics on arsenic and cadmium accumulation in lettuce: Insights into rhizosphere microecology
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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.
Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability
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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.
Co-occurrence of multiple contaminants: Unentangling adsorption behaviour in agricultural soils
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This study examined how microplastics in agricultural soil interact with pesticides and pharmaceutical compounds, finding that microplastics increased pesticide absorption by 120-730% in some soils. This means microplastics can concentrate pesticides in soil, potentially creating toxic hotspots. The findings are important for food safety because crops grown in soil contaminated with both microplastics and pesticides may be exposed to higher levels of chemicals than expected.
Determination of extractable pollutants from microplastics to vegetables: Accumulation and incorporation into the food chain
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Researchers developed a method to detect plastic-related chemical compounds that leach into vegetables, finding that root vegetables contained higher levels of these contaminants than non-root varieties. The study identified 16 quantifiable plastic-associated compounds in the samples, including potentially harmful substances like styrene and phthalates. The findings raise concerns about how microplastics in soil may introduce chemical pollutants into the food chain through crop uptake.
Micro plastic driving changes in the soil microbes and lettuce growth under the influence of heavy metals contaminated soil
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Researchers studied how microplastics interact with heavy metals in contaminated soil and their combined effects on lettuce growth and soil bacteria. Different types of microplastics altered soil chemistry and changed which microbes thrived, sometimes making heavy metals more available to plants. The study suggests that microplastic-contaminated agricultural soil could affect both the safety and nutritional quality of leafy vegetables that people eat.
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