We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
First Evidence of Microplastic in the Roots of Eichhornia Crassipes (mart.) Solms (1883) at the Delmiro Gouveia Paulo Afonso Reservoir – Ba - Submedio São Francisco
Summary
This Brazilian study is the first to document microplastics in the roots of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) in the Sao Francisco River basin, finding 211 microplastic particles in root samples across multiple collection months. Fibers were the dominant type in both plant roots and water samples, highlighting the plant's role in accumulating suspended microplastics.
The work aimed to analyze the presence of microplastics (MPs) in Eichhornia crassipes roots and in water samples, in order to understand the dynamics, adherence and influence on tilapiculture. Root and water collections were carried out in Oct and Dec/2021 and February, April, July and October/2022 at the Delmiro Gouveia Reservoir, close to a fish farm in Paulo Afonso -BA. A total of 228 MPs were identified in the water samples including the control point and 211 MPs in the root samples. In the months of April, February, July and October/2022 there was no collection due to the opening of the hydroelectric dam gates in the region. The frequency of occurrence varied with 41.89% items identified in the water samples, 45.88% in the control point water samples and 12.21% in the root samples and presented higher averages in the months of October and December/2021 and February/2022 with a significant difference between the months and points studied. The filament category was predominant in all samples. The work identified for the first time the presence of MP's in the roots of E. crassipes in the submiddle So Francisco and contributed to elucidating the adhesion of suspended solids in them.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Proposal of Invader Pontederia crassipes as a Savior of Micro and Macro Size Plastic Pollution
This study was the first to evaluate microplastic and macroplastic capture potential of the invasive water hyacinth, finding 3,691 particles in the roots of 12 specimens, with fragments dominating. The results suggest this widely distributed invasive plant may passively accumulate plastic particles from aquatic environments.
Tracing and trapping micro- and nanoplastics: Untapped mitigation potential of aquatic plants?
Researchers used fluorescently labeled polystyrene particles to trace microplastic and nanoplastic uptake in three aquatic plant species, finding that nanoplastics concentrated primarily in roots via apoplastic transport with bioconcentration factors up to 306, suggesting floating plants like water hyacinth may be useful for removing plastic from contaminated water.
Plastic plants: Water hyacinths as driver of plastic transport in tropical rivers
Researchers studied how water hyacinth plants act as drivers of plastic transport in tropical freshwater rivers, finding that the floating plants aggregate and carry large quantities of plastic debris. Understanding this mechanism is important for predicting and intercepting plastic before it reaches the ocean as microplastics.
Phytoremediation of microplastics by water hyacinth
Researchers found that water hyacinth, a fast-growing floating plant, can remove 55-69% of microplastics from contaminated water within 48 hours through root adsorption. The plant's massive root surface area traps plastic particles, while a special structure in the stem prevents the plastics from reaching the leaves. This study offers a promising natural, low-cost approach to cleaning microplastics from waterways.
A Field Guide for Monitoring Riverine Macroplastic Entrapment in Water Hyacinths
Researchers developed a field guide for monitoring macroplastic entrapment in water hyacinths in rivers, providing standardized methods to quantify how floating aquatic vegetation aggregates and transports plastic debris — an understudied pathway in river plastic budgets.