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Pesticide bioaccumulation in radish produced from soil contaminated with microplastics
Summary
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.