Back to papers
0
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. Detection Methods Environmental Sources Food & Water Human Health Effects Nanoplastics Remediation Sign in to save

Determining the accumulation potential of nanoplastics in crops: An investigation of 14C-labelled polystyrene nanoplastic into radishes

Environmental Research 2025 2 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 58 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Richard C. Thompson Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Astrid Fischer, Nathaniel J. Clark, Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Astrid Fischer, Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Demelza Carne, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Nathaniel J. Clark, Nathaniel J. Clark, Nathaniel J. Clark, Astrid Fischer, Lee J. Durndell, Lee J. Durndell, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Demelza Carne, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Lee J. Durndell, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Lee J. Durndell, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson George R. Littlejohn, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Lee J. Durndell, Nathaniel J. Clark, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Anne Plessis, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Lee J. Durndell, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Anne Plessis, Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson Richard C. Thompson

Summary

Researchers used a radioactive labeling technique to track nanoplastics as they moved through radish plants, demonstrating for the first time that these particles can accumulate in edible tissues. About 25% of the nanoplastics absorbed by the roots were found in the edible fleshy root, with another 10% reaching the shoots. The findings highlight a potential pathway for human exposure to nanoplastics through everyday vegetables.

Polymers
PS
Models
Human

The capacity of crops to accumulate nanoplastics has remained relatively unexplored largely due to analytical constraints. To address this challenge, the present study employed a radiolabelling approach to demonstrate, for the first time, that polystyrene nanoplastics (<sup>14</sup>C-PS NPs) accumulate and move into the edible tissues of radishes (Raphanus sativus). Radishes were exposed hydroponically for five days, with only their non-fleshy roots in contact with the <sup>14</sup>C-PS NPs, while accumulation in the fleshy (edible) roots and shoots was subsequently measured. The radish roots retained nearly 5 % of the <sup>14</sup>C-PS NPs from the exposure, either through accumulation or surface adsorption on the non-fleshy root system. The presence of <sup>14</sup>C-PS NPs in the fleshy root and shoots supports the notion that PS NPs can cross the Casparian strip, facilitating uptake and accumulation into the internal plant tissues. The distribution of associated <sup>14</sup>C-PS NPs followed the trend of non-fleshy root > fleshy root > shoots, decreasing further from the site of exposure. Notably, ∼25 % of the accumulated <sup>14</sup>C-PS NPs were detected in the edible fleshy root, and approximately 10 % in the shoots. These results highlight a potential pathway for human exposure to nanoplastics through the ingestion of edible plant parts, which requires further exploration, underscoring the need for further research into this emerging food safety issue.

Read via DOI PubMed Download PDF

Sign in to start a discussion.

Share this paper

Post Share Share Pin Email