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Assessing stress responses in potherb mustard (Brassica juncea var. multiceps) exposed to a synergy of microplastics and cadmium: Insights from physiology, oxidative damage, and metabolomics
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Researchers found that microplastics in soil increased the amount of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, that mustard green plants absorbed, while also reducing crop yields and photosynthesis. Higher concentrations of microplastics made more cadmium available in the soil, leading to greater accumulation of the metal in the plants. This raises food safety concerns because vegetables grown in microplastic-contaminated soil could contain higher levels of toxic metals that are harmful to human health.
Both microplastics (MPs) and cadmium (Cd) are common contaminants in farmland systems, is crucial for assessing their risks for human health and environment, and little research has focused on stress responses mechanisms of crops exposed to the combined pollution. The present study investigated the impact of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) microplastics (MPs), in combination with Cd, on the physiological and metabolomic changes as well as rhizosphere soil of potherb mustard. Elevated levels of PEMPs and PPMPs were found to impede nutrient uptake in plants while promoting premature flowering, and the concomitant effect is lower crop yields. The substantial improvement in Cd bioavailability facilitated by MPs in rhizosphere soil, especially in high concentrations of MPs, then elevated bioavailability of Cd contributed to promoted Cd accumulation in plants, with distinct effects depending on the type and concentration of MPs. The presence of MPs Combined exposure to high concentrations of MPs and Cd resulted in alterations in plant physiology and metabolomics, including decreased biomass and photosynthetic parameters, elevated levels of reactive oxygen species primarily HO, increased antioxidant enzyme activities, and modifications in metabolite profiles. Overall, our study assessed the potential impact on food security (the availability of cadmium to plant) and crops stress responses regarding the contamination of MPs and Cd, providing new insights for future risk assessment in agriculture.
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Researchers tested how different microplastic types combined with cadmium affect plant growth and soil health. Aged and biodegradable microplastics increased cadmium uptake in mustard greens more than fresh conventional plastics did. The study also found that microplastics altered soil microbial activity, suggesting that plastic pollution in farmland could change how plants absorb toxic metals from contaminated soil.
Coupled Effects of Polyethylene Microplastics and Cadmium on Soil–Plant Systems: Impact on Soil Properties and Cadmium Uptake in Lettuce
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Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics interact with cadmium contamination in soil and its effects on lettuce growth. The study found that microplastics combined with cadmium significantly decreased soil quality and that microplastics can alter cadmium uptake in plants, suggesting that co-contamination of agricultural soils with both pollutants may pose compounded risks to food crop safety.
Microplastics in Soil Increase Cadmium Toxicity: Implications for Plant Growth and Nutrient Imbalance
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A pot experiment showed that adding polyethylene microplastics to soil contaminated with cadmium made the toxic metal more available to plants, increasing cadmium uptake in both roots and shoots. The combined exposure reduced crop yields by up to 38% and disrupted the plant's ability to absorb essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. This research is important for food safety because it shows microplastics in farm soil can make heavy metal contamination worse, potentially increasing toxic metal levels in crops people eat.
Unveiling the impacts of biodegradable microplastics on cadmium toxicity, translocation, transformation, and metabolome in lettuce
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Researchers studied how biodegradable microplastics interact with cadmium contamination in lettuce and found that the combination worsened the toxic effects on plant growth compared to cadmium alone. The biodegradable plastics increased cadmium accumulation in the edible parts of the lettuce and altered how the metal was distributed within plant cells. The findings raise concerns about using biodegradable plastic mulch in soils already contaminated with heavy metals, as it may increase the amount of toxic metals that end up in food crops.
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Scientists tested how plastic pollution (microplastics) and cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, affect Chinese cabbage grown in contaminated soil, both matter because they can build up in crops we eat and impact human health. Surprisingly, small-to-moderate amounts of microplastics actually helped protect the cabbage from cadmium's harmful effects by changing soil chemistry and boosting helpful soil microbes, though this doesn't mean microplastic pollution is safe overall. This research shows the relationship between plastic pollution and toxic metals in soil is complicated, and more study is needed before we underst
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