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Single and joint toxicity of polymethyl methacrylate microplastics and As (V) on rapeseed (Brassia campestris L.)
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Researchers evaluated the individual and combined toxicity of polymethyl methacrylate microplastics and arsenic on rapeseed plants. They found that nanoscale plastic particles were more toxic than microscale ones, and the combination of nanoplastics with arsenic produced synergistic harmful effects on germination, growth, and arsenic accumulation in plant tissues. The study raises concerns about the combined impact of microplastics and heavy metals on crop safety in contaminated farmland.
Most microplastics and arsenic (As) have been released into farmland via industrial and agricultural activities, posing a potential threat to crop growth and food safety. Thus far, few studies have focused on the phytoxicity of microplastics and As to leafy vegetable. In this study, we evaluated the single and combined toxicological effects of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and As(V) on rapeseed (Brassia campestris L.). Single treatments of two sizes of PMMA particles, namely PMMA nano-plastics (PMMANPs) and PMMA micro-plastics (PMMAMPs) and As(V) significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the germination index (GI) of rapeseed. The IC indicates that PMMANPs were more toxic than PMMAMPs. Combine-pollution experiments demonstrated that the GI, biomass, root length, and sprout length of the rapeseed under the combined treatment were lower than those subjected to As(V) or PMMANPs single treatment. Analysis of variance showed that the interaction effects of PMMANPs and As(V) for GI and root length were significant, and there was synergistic interaction between PMMANPs and As(V) on rapeseed germination. PMMANPs promoted the accumulation of As in sprouts under high As(V) concentrations (40 and 60 mg/L). The activities of lipase in rapeseed generally increased under single and combined treatments of As(V) and PMMANPs, and while α-amylase activities first increased and then decreased with the increase of PMMANPs. It appears that the combined stress of microplastics and As(V) exhibited synergistic interaction on the growth of rapeseed.
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Effect of foliar and root exposure to polymethyl methacrylate microplastics on biochemistry, ultrastructure, and arsenic accumulation in Brassica campestris L.
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