Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Sign in to save

Biospeckle optical coherence tomography reveals the mitigation of the harmful effects of heavy metal zinc in combination with polyethylene microplastics in lentil seeds

2023 2 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 40 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Yakdehige Sanath Kumara De Silva, Yakdehige Sanath Kumara De Silva, Yakdehige Sanath Kumara De Silva, Yakdehige Sanath Kumara De Silva, Yakdehige Sanath Kumara De Silva, Yakdehige Sanath Kumara De Silva, Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Hirofumi Kadono, Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Hirofumi Kadono, Uma Maheswari Rajagopalan

Summary

Researchers used a novel optical imaging technique to show that polyethylene microplastics alone inhibit lentil seed germination, but when combined with the heavy metal zinc, the microplastics actually reduced zinc uptake by the seedlings, partially offsetting zinc's toxicity. This unexpected interaction suggests that microplastics can alter how plants absorb co-occurring pollutants, complicating predictions of combined contamination risks in agricultural soils.

Polymers

Microplastic pollution has become prevalent due to industrialization and the wide use of plastic. In this study, the individual and combined effects of polyethylene microplastic with Zn on lentil seed germination were monitored using Biospeckle Optical Coherence Tomography (bOCT), a technique established by authors to visualize the internal activity of biological objects. The results imply that both 100 mg L<sup>-1</sup> heavy metal Zn or polyethylene microplastics (PEMPs) alone had a strong inhibitory effect on lentils. However, in combination with PEMPs, the Zn toxicity on lentils was reduced due to the reduction of Zn uptake by the seedlings through the interaction of Zn and MPs. These findings suggest that PEMPs could be able to mitigate the effect on the bioavailability and toxicity of Zn on lentils.

Read via DOI

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email