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Microplastics in soil differentially interfere with nutritional aspects of chilli peppers
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Growing chilli peppers in soil contaminated with five different microplastic types — including PVC, PS, HDPE, LDPE, and PET — significantly reduced nutritional quality, with PVC causing the greatest losses in protein, vitamins A and B6, and fatty acids. This research demonstrates a direct pathway by which soil microplastic pollution could degrade the nutritional value of food crops, with implications for food security and human health.
This study was executed to assess the disruption in nutritional attributes of Capsicum annuum by five different microplastic (MP) types i.e. polyvinylchloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences were recorded among traits of C. annuum fruit concerning the type of MPs. PVC was more hazardous than the other MPs and depleted maximum protein content. Likewise, HDPE exerted a 51.62% reduction in carbohydrates compared to the control. Vitamin-A (-32.09%) and vitamin-B6 (-37%) were severely influenced by the PVC in C. annuum fruit. HDPE and PVC both declined the oleic acid contents. PVC caused a 47.6% reduction in linoleic acid while the least damaging was the PET (4.71%) for this attribute. Palmitic acid and stearic acid were however more negatively affected by the HDPE. The PVC and HDPE severely degraded the total flavonoid contents and phenolics. Macro and micronutrients of C. annuum fruit were also negatively influenced by all the five MPs used in this study. HDPE, PVC and LDPE, respectively caused significant repression in Ca, K, Mg and Zn (P ≤ 0.05). Overall, HDPE and PVC caused significant damage and decreased nutritional contents. This is, so far, the premier study unraveling the changes in the nutrition of C. annuum fruits due to MPs. Accordingly, further research is highly recommended on the changes caused by MPs in the nutritional value of food crops.
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Researchers grew tomato plants in soil containing environmentally realistic levels of PET and PVC microplastics and found mixed effects on plant productivity and fruit quality. While some growth parameters were affected, the microplastics also altered the mineral content of the tomatoes. This study suggests that microplastics in agricultural soil could change the nutritional profile of the food we eat.
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