SYDNEY, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Microplastics and nanoplastics present in agricultural soils can enter crop tissues and stunt plant growth, raising concerns about food safety and human exposure, an Australian study reveals.
Using wheat and tomato plants, the team found that microplastics reduced plant growth and chlorophyll content, with fiber-shaped plastics originating from synthetic textiles causing the most damage, according to a statement released Friday by Australia's Griffith University.
The study, which examined how plastic particles behave under realistic farming conditions, suggested potentially serious implications for food production, it said.
The team found that plants can trap larger microplastic particles in their root systems, limiting their movement in soil but potentially leading to local accumulation around roots.
More significantly, nanoplastics were absorbed into plant tissues and transported within the plant, including its leaves, particularly in tomatoes, said Shima Ziajahromi from Griffith's Australian Rivers Institute, who led the study.
Mixtures of micro- and nanoplastics showed greater toxicity than single particles, suggesting additive or synergistic effects, according to the findings published in the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research.
"These findings demonstrate that agricultural soil is not just a sink for plastics, but a pathway into the food systems, meaning they could end up on our plates," she said, highlighting the need for stronger controls on plastic contamination in agriculture. ■
