Warning of nanoscale accumulation in plant roots

New research says nanoplastics will slow down the growth of terrestrial plants and lead to nutrient deficiencies.

Environmental researchers have warned that nanomaterials threaten marine life in the world's oceans . But it didn't stop there, it also has a negative impact on the terrestrial environment.

The graphic shows the nano-absorbing roots and feathers, at the bottom are pieces of plastic waste.

Baoshan Xing, an environmental scientist from Stockbridge Agricultural School at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, together with collaborators at Shandong University, China, points out that their findings provide direct evidence that Nano resins can accumulate in plants, depending on their surface charge.

The accumulation of trees can have both a direct ecological impact and an impact on agricultural sustainability and food safety.

According to Baoshan Xing, the widespread use and persistence of these materials results in a huge amount of plastic waste.

"Experiments have given us evidence of the uptake and accumulation of nanoplastics in laboratory plants at the tissue and molecular level using micro, molecular and genetic methods." , Baoshan Xing said.

In the study, the scientists planted Arabidopsis , a common plant species as a model organism in plant biology and genetics, in soils mixed with different types of fluorescent nano-labeled plastics. plant weight, height, chlorophyll content, and root growth.

After seven weeks, the researchers observed lower biomass and plant height in plants exposed to nanomaterials.

With this result, the scientists concluded that nanoplastics reduced the biomass of plants. They are smaller and the roots are much shorter. This is not good for plants, reduced yields and the nutritional value of crops can be compromised.