We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Quantitative tracing of uptake and transport of submicrometre plastics in crop plants using lanthanide chelates as a dual-functional tracer
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed a new method using europium-tagged nanoplastics to precisely measure how 200-nanometer plastic particles are taken up by wheat and lettuce plants. The nanoplastics accumulated mainly in the roots, with a small but measurable amount transported to the shoots that people eat. This study confirms that food crops can absorb nanoplastics from contaminated soil, providing a direct pathway for these particles to enter the human diet.
The uptake pathways of nanoplastics by edible plants have recently been qualitatively investigated. There is an urgent need to accurately quantify nanoplastics accumulation in plants. Polystyrene (PS) particles with a diameter of 200 nm were doped with the europium chelate Eu-β-diketonate (PS-Eu), which was used to quantify PS-Eu particles uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa), grown hydroponically and in sandy soil using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. PS-Eu particles accumulated mainly in the roots, while transport to the shoots was limited (for example, <3% for 5,000 μg PS particles per litre exposure). Visualization of PS-Eu particles in the roots and shoots was performed with time-gated luminescence through the time-resolved fluorescence of the Eu chelate. The presence of PS-Eu particles in the plant was further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Doping with lanthanide chelates provides a versatile strategy for elucidating the interactions between nanoplastics and plants.
More Papers Like This
Nanoplastics are taken up by lettuce and barley under realistic soil condition
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found that tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics can be absorbed by lettuce and barley plants when grown in soil, even at low pollution levels similar to what's found in the environment. The plastic particles accumulated in the parts of the plants that people eat, showing a new way these pollutants could enter our food supply. While the amounts were small, this research reveals that nanoplastics from pollution can travel from soil into our crops, which could eventually affect human health.
Uptake and translocation of nanoplastics in mono and dicot vegetables
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists exposed four different vegetable crops to fluorescent nanoplastics and tracked where the particles ended up in the plants. Nanoplastics were absorbed through the roots and transported to the stems and leaves of all plants tested, including tomatoes, radishes, and leafy greens. This confirms that food crops can take up nanoplastics from contaminated soil and deliver them to the parts of the plant that people eat.
Multimodal imaging and quantification of lanthanide chelate-labeled micro- and nanoplastics in plants
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists have developed a better way to track how tiny plastic particles move through plants—from roots to leaves—by using special glowing chemical tags that don't get washed out by the plant's natural background glow, unlike older tracking methods. This matters because microplastics in our food supply are a growing concern, and understanding exactly how they get into the crops we eat (like wheat and lettuce) is a key step toward figuring out whether—and how much—they end up on our dinner plates.
Assessing implications of nanoplastics exposure to plants with advanced nanometrology techniques
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers exposed wheat plants to palladium-doped nanoplastics in hydroponic conditions and used advanced imaging techniques to track their uptake. They found that nanoplastics accumulated on root surfaces and were taken up into root tissues, with some translocation to the shoots. The study provides quantitative evidence that nanoplastics can enter the food chain through plant uptake from contaminated growing environments.
The review of nanoplastics in plants: Detection, analysis, uptake, migration and risk
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how nanoplastics are detected, analyzed, taken up by plants, and migrate through plant tissues from roots to edible parts. As nanoplastics are found in agricultural soils, understanding how they enter food crops is critical for assessing human dietary exposure.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.