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Terrestrial plants as a potential temporary sink of atmospheric microplastics during transport
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Plant leaves in two urban regions were found to trap atmospheric microplastics, with plastics making up 28% of the particles adhered to leaf surfaces. Extrapolated globally, leaves in the top 11 greenest countries could hold an estimated 130 billion microplastic pieces, making plants a temporary but significant atmospheric sink for microplastic pollution.
Atmospheric transport is an important pathway by which terrestrial microplastics (MPs, with sizes less than 5 mm) can move long distances to remote areas. However, little is known about the environmental behaviors of atmospheric MPs during movement. To address this issue, deposits of MPs on the leaves of plants were studied in two regions, with abundance ranging from 0.07 n/cm (pieces per area of leaves) to 0.19 n/cm. The attached substances were mainly natural materials, but 28% of the total substances were plastics. There was a similar physical-chemical composition of the attached MPs in the two regions suggesting a similar origin. Leaves, regardless of plant species, can indiscriminately retain atmospheric MPs. About 0.13 trillion pieces of MPs are estimated to be attached to leaf surfaces in the top 11 green countries. Leaves of terrestrial plants could be a temporal sink and a source of MPs pollution to remote areas. This is not fully recognized and merits further study.
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Researchers found that leaf surface properties and rainfall intensity significantly influence how much atmospheric microplastics are retained on plant foliage, with leaves near a landfill retaining up to 0.80 items/cm2 and autumn showing the highest seasonal accumulation across five common urban tree species.
Accumulation of airborne microplastics on leaves of different tree species in the urban environment
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Researchers measured airborne microplastics collected on tree leaves in urban areas of the Netherlands and Portugal, finding that needle-shaped leaves from pine and fir trees captured the most particles per surface area. Trees appear to act as natural filters for airborne microplastics, especially the smallest particles, and more plastic accumulated on leaves during dry periods. This matters for human health because airborne microplastics are a growing source of exposure through breathing.
Microplastic retention in urban tree canopies of Hamburg, Germany
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Researchers measured microplastic retention on urban tree leaves in Hamburg, Germany, sampling lime and oak trees near roads with different traffic levels in summer and autumn. Urban trees capture airborne microplastics on their leaf surfaces, acting as temporary depositional sinks and potentially transferring plastic particles to soil when leaves fall.
Comparison of microplastic type, size, and composition in atmospheric and foliage samples in an urban scenario
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Researchers compared microplastic contamination in outdoor air deposits and on plant leaf surfaces in an urban area and found that both sampling methods detected similar types and sizes of microplastic particles. Fibers were the most common shape found, and polyester and polyethylene were among the most frequently identified polymers. The study suggests that plant foliage could serve as a practical biomonitor for tracking airborne microplastic pollution in cities.
Airborne microplastics in leaves and food safety risks
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Researchers provided evidence that airborne microplastics are deposited on and taken up by plant leaves, highlighting an important and underappreciated pathway of terrestrial plastic pollution and raising food safety concerns about the accumulation of airborne MPs on edible vegetation.
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