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An analysis of impact of soil co-pollution with lead and traditional/biodegradable microplastics on growth characteristics of maize (Zea mays L.)
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Scientists found that when common plastic pollution (from plastic bags/packaging) mixes with lead in soil, it makes corn plants absorb even more lead into their roots, stems, and leaves while also stunting their growth. Interestingly, a plant-based biodegradable plastic caused fewer of these problems and even helped some beneficial soil processes. This matters because lead-contaminated crops can pose health risks to people who eat them, and it suggests that the type of plastic polluting our farmland could make heavy metal contamination in food crops worse or better.
Globally, microplastics (MPs) are widely generated and released into terrestrial ecosystems, raising significant environmental concerns. In agricultural soils, MPs are commonly found, but little is known about their interactions with lead (Pb) and their impact on plant growth. Current study examined the effects of Pb and MPs co-contamination on maize growth using polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) and polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs). Both types of MPs influenced plant growth attributes, but PE-MPs had a more detrimental impact. Results showed that soil co-contamination with PE-MPs and Pb increased Pb uptake, reduced photosynthetic activity, heightened oxidative stress, and diminished maize growth. Plants treated with the highest level of PE-MPs (PE-MPs 2 % and Pb, T6) experienced a decrease in root length, shoot length, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, root diameter, and root surface area by 6.6 %, 22.8 %, 40.2 %, 37.5 %, 35 %, and 23 %, respectively, compared to control. T6 treatment also significantly decreased photosynthesis, intercellular CO, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b contents by 13.6 %, 18.6 %, 20.9 %, 10.6 %, 10.6 %, and 11.6 %, respectively. Similarly, the T6 treatment induced greater oxidative stress in maize compared to all treatments. T6 treatment increased malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), and hydrogen peroxide (HO) production by 50.4 %, 64.5 %, and 48.6 % respectively; and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and peroxidase (POD) activity by 26.3 %, 40.5 %, and 45.2 %, respectively. Moreover, T6 treatment augmented Pb uptake in plants, with Pb uptake in maize roots, leaves, and stems increasing by 17.6 %, 10.5 %, and 15.4 %, respectively. MPs and Pb co-contamination affected soil enzyme activities in opposing ways. PLA-MPs boosted soil enzyme activities, whereas PE-MPs suppressed them. In T3 treatment, soil urease, CAT, dehydrogenase (DHA), and fluorescein diacetate (FDAse) activity increased by 11 %, 7.7 %, 6.1 %, and 9.9 %, respectively. This research provides valuable insights into MPs and Pb co-contamination and their impacts on plant growth, and the environment's quality. Additionally, it provides directions for future MPs and Pb interactions research.
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