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‘AcidRain’ Amplifies the Impacts ofPolyvinyl Chloride Microplastics on Heavy Metal Toxicity and Transferin Soil-Lettuce Systems
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Using multi-omics approaches, researchers studied how co-exposure to polyvinyl chloride microplastics and simulated acid rain affects heavy metal transfer in soil-crop systems. PVC microplastics combined with acid rain enhanced heavy metal mobilization and uptake by crops, increasing food chain contamination risks compared to either stressor alone.
Microplastic pollution, particularly from persistent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics, and the increasing prevalence of “acid rain” (AR) pose considerable environmental risks to food crops. However, the coexposure effects of PVC and AR on heavy metal transfer in soil-crop systems and the associated underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study employed multiomic approaches to investigate the synergistic effects of PVC and AR on Cd and As bioavailability, bacterial diversity, metabolites, and microbial functional genes in a soil–lettuce pot system. The results showed that PVC and AR coexposure increased Cd accumulation by 51.9% and decreased As uptake by 32.5%. This was likely due to changes in soil pH and metal mobility. The microbial analysis identified Sphingopyxis and Bacillus as key genera linked to plant Cd and As accumulation. The metabolomic analysis revealed suppressed energy balance and cellular growth, coupled with enhanced lipid-related pathways, suggesting an adaptive response in the soil system to environmental stress. The metagenomic analysis further revealed the downregulation of essential metabolic genes and upregulation of adaptive pathways, including ABC transporters and nitrogen metabolism. This study provides critical insights into the effects of coexposure to PVC and AR on heavy metal transfer, highlighting the need for sustainable agricultural practices to ensure safe crop production in contaminated areas.
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‘Acid Rain’ Amplifies the Impacts of Polyvinyl Chloride Microplastics on Heavy Metal Toxicity and Transfer in Soil-Lettuce Systems
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This study used multi-omics to investigate the combined effects of PVC microplastics and acid rain on heavy metal transfer in soil-crop systems. The combination amplified heavy metal uptake by crops compared to either stressor alone, with molecular analyses revealing disrupted detoxification pathways in plant tissues.
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A multiomics study investigated how microplastics and heavy metal(loid)s interact in agricultural soils under acid precipitation conditions, finding that co-contamination altered metal mobility, plant uptake, and soil microbial function in ways distinct from either pollutant alone.
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Researchers found that co-exposure to polyethylene microplastics and acid rain produced interactive effects on the soil-lettuce system, with high microplastic concentrations combined with acid rain increasing soil CO2 emissions and altering microbial community structure.
Microplastic-Mediated Heavy Metal Uptake in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.): Implications for Food Safety and Agricultural Sustainability
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Researchers grew lettuce in contaminated soil mixed with different types of microplastics, including fibers, glitter, and fragments from bags and bottles. They found that microplastics altered how heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and copper moved through the soil and into the plants, sometimes increasing uptake of toxic metals in roots while decreasing others in leaves. The results raise concerns about food safety in agricultural areas where both microplastic and heavy metal contamination overlap.
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