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Foliar-applied polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) reduce the growth and nutritional quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Environmental Pollution 2021 364 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 65 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Jiapan Lian, Jiapan Lian, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Jiani Wu, Aurang Zeb, Jiapan Lian, Jiapan Lian, Jiapan Lian, Jiani Wu, Aurang Zeb, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Aurang Zeb, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Jiani Wu, Jiani Wu, Lingzuo Meng, Jiani Wu, Jiani Wu, Lingzuo Meng, Jiani Wu, Jiapan Lian, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Yuebing Sun Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Weitao Liu, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Weitao Liu, Aurang Zeb, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Aurang Zeb, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Chao Lei, Lingzuo Meng, Lingzuo Meng, Lingzuo Meng, Lingzuo Meng, Lingzuo Meng, Lingzuo Meng, Jiapan Lian, Weitao Liu, Jiani Wu, Jiapan Lian, Weitao Liu, Jiani Wu, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Jiani Wu, Yuebing Sun Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Yuebing Sun Weitao Liu, Jiani Wu, Aurang Zeb, Jiapan Lian, Weitao Liu, Aurang Zeb, Chao Lei, Weitao Liu, Chao Lei, Jiapan Lian, Jiani Wu, Aurang Zeb, Jiapan Lian, Yuebing Sun Jiani Wu, Chao Lei, Aurang Zeb, Jiapan Lian, Yuebing Sun Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Weitao Liu, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Yuebing Sun Yuebing Sun Jiapan Lian, Chao Lei, Aurang Zeb, Jiapan Lian, Jiapan Lian, Yuebing Sun Aurang Zeb, Aurang Zeb, Yuebing Sun Weitao Liu, Chao Lei, Yuebing Sun Yuebing Sun Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Jiapan Lian, Weitao Liu, Yuebing Sun Weitao Liu, Yuebing Sun Weitao Liu, Weitao Liu, Yuebing Sun Yuebing Sun

Summary

When lettuce plants were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics sprayed on their leaves, they grew significantly smaller and produced less nutritious food, with reduced essential amino acids and micronutrients. The nanoplastics were absorbed through leaf pores and could travel down to the roots, causing oxidative stress throughout the plant. This study warns that airborne nanoplastic pollution could reduce both the quantity and nutritional quality of food crops.

Polymers

Currently, there is a lack of information about the influence of foliar-applied nanoplastics on crop growth and nutritional quality. To fill the knowledge gap, soil-grown lettuces (Lactuca sativa L.) were foliar-exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics (PSNPs) at 0, 0.1 and 1 mg/L for one month. Foliar exposure to PSNPs significantly decreased the dry weight, height, and leaf area of lettuce by 14.3%-27.3%, 24.2%-27.3%, and 12.7%-19.2%, respectively, compared with the control. Similarly, plant pigment content (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid) was considerably reduced (9.1%, 8.7%, 12.5%) at 1 mg/L PSNPs. However, the significant increase in electrolyte leakage rate (18.6%-25.5%) and the decrease in total antioxidant capacity (12.4%-26%) were the key indicators of oxidative stress in lettuce leaves, demonstrating the phytotoxicity of PSNPs by foliar exposure. In addition, the remarkable reduction in micronutrients and essential amino acids demonstrated a decrease in nutritional quality of lettuce caused by PSNPs. Besides, SEM and TEM analysis indicated the possible absorption of PSNPs through leaves stoma and the translocation downwards to plant roots. This study provides new information about the interaction of airborne NPs with plants. It also warns against atmospheric NPs pollution that the adverse effects of airborne NPs on crop production and food quality should be assessed as a matter of urgency.

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