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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Sign in to save

Polystyrene nano- and microplastic accumulation at Arabidopsis and wheat root cap cells, but no evidence for uptake into roots

Environmental Science Nano 2020 251 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Stephen E. Taylor, Carolyn I. Pearce, Karen Sanguinet, Dehong Hu, William Chrisler, Young‐Mo Kim, Zhan Wang, Zhan Wang, Markus Flury

Summary

Researchers investigated whether polystyrene nano- and microplastics can be taken up by the roots of Arabidopsis and wheat plants. They found that plastic particles accumulated at root cap cells on the outer surface of roots but found no evidence that the particles were actually taken up into root tissues. The study suggests that while plastic particles associate with plant roots, they may not easily enter the plant itself through this pathway.

Polymers

Association of plastic particles with plant roots could represent a pathway for human consumption of plastic and plastic-associated organic contaminants.

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